House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill

Debate between Nick Timothy and Mark Sewards

Committee of the whole House
Tuesday 12th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Nick Timothy]

rose—

[Mr Sewards]

I will happily give way to whichever Member is more enthusiastic.

[Nick Timothy]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman and to my right hon. Friend. The hon. Gentleman has presented an argument that is based on the principle that hereditary peerages are wrong. Will he give us a clear, principled argument in favour of life peerages? Why does he believe that that is acceptable when those peers can legislate for a lifetime—for decades—with no accountability at all?

[Mr Sewards]

I emphasise that hereditary peers are in the House of Lords because they are born into a particular family. That cannot be right. Life peers are there because they are appointed, usually because of expertise that they can offer in scrutinising legislation. I therefore suggest that life peers definitely have the advantage over hereditary peers simply because they are not there through the family they were born into.