"Ending a 700-year tradition," foreign media: UK Parliament votes to abolish hereditary peerages in the House of Lords

【Global Times Report】According to reports from The Guardian, the Associated Press, and other media outlets, the UK Parliament has voted to abolish the seats held by hereditary peers in the House of Lords, which are not elected. This move means that this seven-century-old political tradition will end within a few weeks.

On July 17, 2024, King Charles III delivered the “King’s Speech” at the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords. Photo source: foreign media

The Associated Press states that on the evening of the 10th, members of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament waived their right to oppose legislation passed by the House of Commons. The bill will remove dozens of peers—dukes, earls, and viscounts—who inherited their seats due to their noble titles.

UK Secretary of State Nick Thomas-Symonds said this reform ends an outdated principle.

“Our Parliament should always be a place that recognizes talent and values merit,” Nick Thomas-Symonds said. “It should never be a showcase for old-fashioned connections, nor should it allow titles conferred centuries ago to override the will of the people.”

The Associated Press reports that the bill will officially take effect after approval by King Charles III—though this is just a routine procedure. Hereditary peers will leave the House of Lords at the end of this parliamentary session in spring, completing a political process that began in 1999, when over 600 hereditary peers lost their seats. Given the pace of the House of Lords, this is considered quite swift.

It is understood that the UK Parliament is the highest legislative body in the UK, composed of the Monarch, the House of Lords (the Upper House), and the House of Commons (the Lower House). Members of the House of Lords include royal descendants, hereditary peers, life peers, and bishops of the Church of England. In November 1999, the House of Lords Reform Act was passed, removing the seats of over 600 hereditary peers, leaving only 92. Non-political appointments to the House of Lords are recommended by a special Royal Commission.

The Associated Press notes that the House of Lords plays an important role in the UK parliamentary system, responsible for reviewing legislation passed by the House of Commons. However, critics have long argued that the institution operates slowly and lacks democratic legitimacy. In February this year, former UK ambassador to the US, Manderson, resigned as a life peer after being involved in the Epstein case. This incident once again drew public attention to issues of misconduct among members of the House of Lords.