17th July 2026
Many people across the political spectrum now raise a question. Should a departing Prime Minister have the power to create large numbers of new members of the House of Lords?
There are two sides to the argument.
The case for reform
The House of Lords is already one of the largest legislative chambers in the world. It currently has over 800 members, far more than many elected parliaments.
Critics argue:
A Prime Minister who has just lost power or resigned can still influence Parliament for decades by creating new life peers.
Large resignation honours lists can look like rewards for political loyalty rather than recognition of public service.
The system can appear outdated when compared with modern expectations of transparency and accountability.
New appointments increase the size and cost of the second chamber.
The concern became particularly noticeable after recent political upheaval:
Boris Johnson resigned in 2022 and created a controversial resignation honours list.
Liz Truss left office after only 49 days but still had the ability to recommend honours.
Rishi Sunak also created honours before leaving office.
This has led some critics to argue that the outgoing Prime Minister should not be able to significantly reshape the unelected chamber.
The argument for keeping the system
Supporters of the current arrangement would say:
Prime Ministers of all parties have traditionally been able to recommend appointments.
The Lords is not only made up of politicians; it includes scientists, doctors, business leaders, academics, military figures, charity workers and others with expertise.
A second chamber needs people with experience outside electoral politics.
Removing the Prime Minister's role could simply transfer the power elsewhere rather than solve the problem.
The question is not whether people should be appointed to the Lords, but who decides and what rules should apply.
Possible reforms
Several options have been suggested over the years:
1. A limit on the size of the Lords
For example, setting a maximum number of members and only replacing those who retire or leave.
2. An independent appointments commission
The current commission already vets appointments, but critics argue it should have greater control over numbers and political balance.
3. Fixed terms instead of lifetime membership
Life peerages mean someone appointed at 50 could potentially remain until their death. Some argue that 10- or 15-year terms would be more appropriate.
4. A fully elected second chamber
This has been debated for decades, although it raises questions about whether two elected chambers would compete for power.
The wider issue: trust
Perhaps the biggest problem is perception.
At a time when many people are struggling with household costs, seeing politicians create hundreds of additional political positions can reinforce the feeling that Westminster operates by different rules from ordinary life.
Whether one supports or opposes the Lords, there is a legitimate question:
Can an institution designed centuries ago continue unchanged when public expectations about democracy, accountability and value for money have changed so much?
The latest appointments
Nominations from the Leader of the Labour Party:
Alison Garnham - Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action Group.
Alison Lowe OBE - Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire.
Barbara Mills KC - Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales (2025), family law barrister and Joint Head of Chambers at 4PB.
Cathy Ashley OBE - Chief Executive of Family Rights Group and former Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
Christina McAnea – Former General Secretary of UNISON.
June Sarpong OBE - Broadcaster, charity campaigner and social equity advocate.
The Rt Hon Ken Macintosh DL – Former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament.
Kitty Ussher - British economist, former Member of Parliament for Burnley and former Economic Secretary to the Treasury.
Marcus Davey CBE – Former CEO and Artistic Director of the Roundhouse.
Martin McTague OBE - National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses.
Nick Stace OBE - Chief Global Impact Officer at Howden Group.
Parvais Jabbar MBE - Human rights expert, co-founder and Co-Executive Director of The Death Penalty Project.
Roberto Neri - CEO of The Ivors Academy and a Director of UK Music.
The Rt Hon Sir Sadiq Khan - Mayor of London and former Member of Parliament for Tooting.
Saul Lehrfreund MBE - Human rights expert, co-founder and Co-Executive Director of The Death Penalty Project.
Tim J Smith CBE – Former Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency.
Nominations from the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party:
Dave McCobb – Liberal Democrat Director of Field Campaigns. Former Hull City Councillor of 22 years.
Hannah Kitching – Chair of the Yorkshire Liberal Democrats and Town Mayor of Penistone. Former NHS physiotherapist and Barnsley councillor.
Julia Aglionby – Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land. Agricultural valuer and former Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate.
Mark Petterson – Director of Warwick Energy Limited. Pioneer of UK offshore wind and long-standing adviser to the Liberal Democrats.
Dr Tim Leunig – Chief Economist at Nesta and Visiting Professor at LSE. Former senior civil servant and economic adviser.
Nominations from the Leader of the Conservatives:
David Ross - Entrepreneur and Philanthropist. Co-Founder of Carphone Warehouse, Sponsor and Chair of David Ross Education Trust, Founder of the Nevill Holt Festival and former Chair of the National Portrait Gallery.
General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO - Lately Chief of the General Staff, British Army.
Professor Swaran Singh - Professor of Social and Community Psychiatry, University of Warwick; Consultant Psychiatrist, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and former Equality and Human Rights Commissioner.
Nominations for Crossbench Peerages:
The Rt Hon Sir Brian Leveson - Investigatory Powers Commissioner. Former President of the Queen’s Bench Division and Lord Justice of Appeal. Former Chair of the Sentencing Council and Chair of the Leveson Inquiry into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press.
Sir Chris Wormald KCB - Former Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service.