Hereditary Peers Debate

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Department: Leader of the House
Thursday 20th October 2011

(13 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Strathclyde Portrait Lord Strathclyde
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No, My Lords, I did not say there was no urgency in this particular matter; but in the matter of hereditary Peers, which is entirely different. We accept that there is an opportunity here and, as the previous question demonstrated, any amendment to the line of succession involves consulting those member states of the Commonwealth in which the Queen is head of state under the Statute of Westminster. There would also need to be legislation. Next week, there is a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government and in the margins of that we hope to make progress on this issue.

Lord Tyler Portrait Lord Tyler
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My Lords, in following up the question of the noble Lord, Lord Elystan-Morgan, and while undertaking further research, would my noble friend examine whether, if we elect the Monarch, we do so under a proportional system?

Lord Strathclyde Portrait Lord Strathclyde
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My Lords, without having to consult my colleagues, I am pretty clear that that would not be the case.