Following the enactment of the

House of Lords Act 1999 The House of Lords Act 1999 (c. 34) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. The Act was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. For centuries, the House of Lords ...

, the number of

hereditary peer The hereditary peers form part of the peerage in the United Kingdom. As of September 2022, there are 807 hereditary peers: 29 dukes (including five royal dukes), 34 marquesses, 190 earls, 111 viscounts, and 443 barons (disregarding subsid ...

s entitled to sit in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...

was reduced to ninety-two. Ninety of the first ninety-two were

elected Elected may refer to: * "Elected" (song), by Alice Cooper, 1973 * ''Elected'' (EP), by Ayreon, 2008 *The Elected, an American indie rock band See also *Election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population ...

by all the hereditary peers before the passing of the reform. Since November 2002, by-elections have been held to fill vacancies left by deaths, resignations or disqualifications of those peers. Since the passing of the

House of Lords Reform Act 2014 The House of Lords Reform Act 2014 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act was a private member's bill. It received Royal Assent on 14 May 2014. The Act allows members of the House of Lords to retire or resign – actions previou ...

, by-elections have also been held to fill vacancies left by the retirements of those peers. Before the passing of the 1999 Act, the Lords approved a Standing Order stating that the remaining hereditary peers shall consist of: * 2 peers to be elected by the

Labour Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

hereditary peers * 42 peers to be elected by the

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

hereditary peers * 3 peers to be elected by the

Liberal Democrat Several political party, political parties from around the world have been called the Liberal Democratic Party or Liberal Democrats. These parties usually follow a liberal democracy, liberal democratic ideology. Active parties Former parties ...

hereditary peers * 28 peers to be elected by the

Crossbench A crossbencher is an independent or minor party member of some legislatures, such as the British House of Lords and the Parliament of Australia. They take their name from the crossbenches, between and perpendicular to the government and oppositi ...

hereditary peers * 15 peers to be elected by the whole House * The holders of the offices of

Earl Marshal Earl marshal (alternatively marschal or marischal) is a hereditary royal officeholder and chivalric title under the sovereign of the United Kingdom used in England (then, following the Act of Union 1800, in the United Kingdom). He is the eig ...

and

Lord Great Chamberlain The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State (United Kingdom), Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable of England, Lord Hi ...

to be

ex officio member An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...

s. Elections must be held within three months of a vacancy occurring, and they take place under the

Alternative Vote Instant-runoff voting (IRV) is a type of Ranked voting, ranked preferential Electoral system, voting method. It uses a Majority rule, majority voting rule in single-winner elections where there are more than two candidates. It is commonly referr ...

system. All those on the Register of Hereditary Peers are eligible to stand, but only sitting (the "excepted") hereditary peers may vote for the 75 seats reserved for a single parliamentary group (which can result in very small electorates, such as three voters in the 2003 election of Lord Grantchester); for the 15 peers elected by the whole house, life peers may also vote. As of October 2022, there have been 18 by-elections among Conservative peers; 18 by-elections among Crossbench peers; 2 among Liberal Democrat peers; and 2 among Labour peers. In addition, there have been 13 by-elections by the whole House.

Current composition

, the party affiliations of the elected hereditary peers are as follows: *''Two additional hereditary peers are ex officio members of the Lords:

Duke of Norfolk Duke of Norfolk is a title in the peerage of England. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the county of Norfolk. The current duke is Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk. The dukes ...

(Earl Marshal) and

Baron Carrington Baron Carrington is a title that has been created three times, once in the Peerage of England, once in the Peerage of Ireland and once in the Peerage of Great Britain. History The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1643 in favou ...

(Lord Great Chamberlain), the latter of whom was initially elected as a Crossbench hereditary peer.''

By-election results

2003

;After the death of the

Viscount of Oxfuird Viscount of Oxfuird is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1651 for Sir James Makgill, 1st Baronet, along with the subsidiary title of Lord Makgill of Cousland, also in the Peerage of Scotland, with remainder to his "heirs mal ...

: , - , ! style="background:white;", , Others , ''37 others'' , style="text-align:right;", 0 , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , - ;After the death of Lord Milner of Leeds:

2004

After the death of Lord Vivian:

2005

After the death of the

Earl Russell Earl Russell, of Kingston Russell in the County of Dorset, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 30 July 1861 for the prominent Liberal politician Lord John Russell. He was Home Secretary from 1835 to 1839, Foreign ...

: After the death of

Lord Burnham Baron Burnham, of Hall Barn in the Parish of Beaconsfield in the County of Buckingham, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 31 July 1903 for the influential newspaper magnate Sir Edward Levy-Lawson, 1st Baronet, o ...

: After the death of

Lord Aberdare Baron Aberdare, of Duffryn in the County of Glamorgan, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 23 August 1873 for the Liberal politician Henry Bruce. He served as Home Secretary from 1868 to 1873. His grandson, the thi ...

: , - , ! style="background:white;", , Others , ''10 others'' , style="text-align:right;", 0 , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , - After the death of Baroness Strange:

2007

After the death of Lord Mowbray and Stourton:

2008

After the death of the Baroness Darcy de Knayth:

2009

After the death of the

Viscount Bledisloe Viscount Bledisloe, of Lydney in the County of Gloucestershire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1935 for the Conservative politician Charles Bathurst, 1st Baron Bledisloe, upon his retirement as Governor-Gener ...

2010

After the death of the

Viscount Colville of Culross Viscount Colville of Culross, in the County of Perth, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 15 July 1902 for the politician and courtier, Charles Colville, 10th Lord Colville of Culross. He had already been created B ...

: After the death of the

Earl of Northesk Earl of Northesk is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1662 for John Carnegie, who notably served as Sheriff of Forfarshire. He was given the subsidiary title of Lord Rosehill and Eglismauldie (or Inglismaldie) at the same t ...

2011

After the death of the

Lord Strabolgi Baron Strabolgi (pronounced "Strabogie") is a title in the Peerage of England supposedly created in 1318 for Scottish lord David of Strathbogie, 10th Earl of Atholl. Despite lack of evidence supporting its existence, it was called out of abeya ...

: , - , ! style="background:white;", , Others , ''4 others'' , style="text-align:right;", 0 , - After the death of the Lord Monson: After the death of the

Earl of Onslow Earl of Onslow, of Onslow in the County of Shropshire and of Clandon Park in the County of Surrey is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1801 for George Onslow, 4th Baron Onslow. History The Onslow family descends ...

: After the death of the

Lord Ampthill Baron Ampthill, of Ampthill in the County of Bedfordshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 11 March 1881 for the diplomat Lord Odo Russell. He was the third son of Major-General Lord George Russell, second son ...

: , - , ! style="background:white;", , Others , ''2 others'' , style="text-align:right;", 0 , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , -

2013

After the death of

Earl Ferrers Earl Ferrers is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1711 for Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers, Robert Shirley, 14th Baron Ferrers of Chartley. The Shirley family descends from George Shirley (died 1622) of Astwell Castle ...

: After the death of the

Lord Reay Lord Reay, of Reay in the County of Caithness, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. Lord Reay (pronounced "ray") is the hereditary Clan Chief of Clan Mackay, whose lands in Strathnaver and northwest Sutherland were known as the Reay Country. ...

: , - , ! style="background:white;", , Others , ''4 others'' , style="text-align:right;", 0 , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , -

2014

After the death of the Lord Moran: After the death of the

Lord Methuen Baron Methuen, of Corsham in the County of Wiltshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1838 for the former Member of Parliament for Wiltshire and Wiltshire North, Paul Methuen. His grandson, the third Baron (who ...

: , - , ! style="background:white;", , Others , ''3 others'' , style="text-align:right;", 0 , - After the death of the Viscount Allenby of Megiddo: After the retirement of the Lord Cobbold:

2015

After the retirement of the Lord Chorley: After the retirement of the Lady Saltoun of Abernethy: After the retirement of the

Viscount Tenby Viscount Tenby, of Bulford in the County of Pembroke, is a hereditary title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1957 for former Home Secretary, the Hon. Gwilym Lloyd George, second son of Prime Minister David Lloyd George, 1st Ea ...

: After the retirement of the Lord Luke: After the retirement of the

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, of Hindhead in the County of Surrey, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. History The viscountcy was created in 1946 for the military commander Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgom ...

: After the death of the

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu Baron Montagu of Beaulieu (, Engl. pronunciation: "bewley", from French ''beau'', "beautiful" and ''lieu'', "place"), in the County of Hampshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1885 for the Conservative pol ...

2016

After the death of the Lord Avebury: After the removal for non-attendance of the Lord Bridges:

2017

After the death of the Lord Lyell: After the retirement of the

Lord Walpole Baron Walpole of Walpole in the County of Norfolk, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. Since 1797 holders also hold the title of Baron Walpole of Wolterton. Past holders have also held the titles Baron Walpole of Houghton in the County ...

: *

Viscount Hill Viscount Hill, of Hawkstone and of Hardwicke in the County of Salop, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1842 for General Rowland Hill. He had already been created Baron Hill, of Almaraz and of Hawkstone in the C ...

originally announced his candidacy but later withdrew.

2018

After the retirement of the

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley Earl Baldwin of Bewdley is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1937 for the Conservative politician Stanley Baldwin, who had served as MP for Bewdley from 1908 to 1937 and was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom ...

: *

David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (born 3 November 1961), styled as Viscount Linley until 2017 and known professionally as David Linley, is an English furniture maker, a former chairman of the auction house Christie's UK, ...

originally announced his candidacy but later withdrew. After the retirement of the Lord Glentoran: After the retirement of the

Lord Northbourne Baron Northbourne, of Betteshanger in the County of Kent, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1884 for Sir Walter James, 2nd Baronet, who had earlier represented Kingston upon Hull in the House of Commons as a Con ...

2019

After the death of the Lord Skelmersdale: , - , ! style="background:white;", , Others , ''3 others'' , style="text-align:right;", 0 , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , - After the death of the

Viscount Slim Viscount Slim, of Yarralumla in the Capital Territory of Australia and of Bishopston in the City and County of Bristol, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1960 for Field Marshal Sir William Slim upon the en ...

2021

Normally, by-elections must be held within three months of a vacancy occurring, but on 23 March 2020 a motion was passed by the House to suspend any by-elections until 8 September 2020, as part of revised working arrangements in response to the

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom is a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In the United Kingdom, it has resulted in confir ...

. On 7 September, a further motion was passed by the House to continue the suspension of by-elections until 31 December 2020. On 14 December, a further motion was passed by the House to suspend by-elections pending a report from the Procedure and Privileges Committee. On 22 February 2021, a motion was passed by the House to continue the suspension pending a further review by the Committee after any adjournment of the House for Easter. On 26 April, a report of the Committee was published. The Committee announced that by-elections will resume and anticipated that pending by-elections would be held before the summer recess of the House. After the retirements of the

Earl of Selborne Earl of Selborne, in the County of Southampton, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1882 for the lawyer and Liberal politician Roundell Palmer, 1st Baron Selborne, along with the subsidiary title of Viscount Wo ...

and the Lord Denham, and the removal for non-attendance of the Lord Selsdon: After the retirement of the

Countess of Mar There are currently two earldoms of Mar in the Peerage of Scotland, and the title has been created seven times. The first creation of the earldom is currently held by Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar, who is also clan chief of Clan Mar. The ...

: After the death of the Lord Rea: After the retirement of the Lord Elton: After the death of the

Viscount Simon Viscount Simon, of Stackpole Elidor in the County of Pembroke, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 20 May 1940 for the Liberal politician Sir John Simon. He was Home Secretary from 1915 to 1916 and 1935 to 1937 ...

2022

After the retirement of the

Viscount Ridley Viscount Ridley is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1900 for the Conservative politician Sir Matthew White Ridley, 5th Baronet, Home Secretary from 1895 to 1900. He was made Baron Wensleydale, of Blagdon and Bl ...

: After the retirement of the Lord Rotherwick: After the retirement of the Lord Brabazon of Tara, and the death of the Lord Swinfen: After the retirement of the

Viscount Ullswater Viscount Ullswater, of Campsea Ashe in the County of Suffolk, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1921 for James Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater, James Lowther upon his retirement as Speaker of the House of Commons ...

, and the Lord Colwyn: , - , ! style="background:white;", , Others , ''2 others'' , style="text-align:right;", 0 , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , style="text-align:right;", - , - After the retirement of the

Earl of Listowel Earl of Listowel (pronounced "Lish-''toe''-ell") is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1822 for William Hare, 1st Viscount Ennismore and Listowel, who had earlier represented Cork City and Athy in the Irish House of Commons. ...

: After the retirement of the Lord Astor of Hever, and the death of the

Earl of Home Earl of Home ( ) is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1605 for Alexander Home of that Ilk, 6th Lord Home. The Earl of Home holds, among others, the subsidiary titles of Lord Home (created 1473), and Lord Dunglass (1605), i ...

: *

The Earl of Minto Earl of Minto, in the County of Roxburgh, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1813 for Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Baron Minto. The current earl is Gilbert Timothy George Lariston Elliot-Murray-Kynynm ...

and

Lord Roborough Henry Yarde Buller Lopes, 1st Baron Roborough (24 March 1859 – 14 April 1938), known as Sir Henry Lopes, 4th Baronet from 1908 to 1938, of Maristow in the parish of Tamerton Foliot, Devon, was a British Conservative Party politician. Life Lo ...

initially announced their candidacies, but subsequently were elected at a by-election earlier the same week.

Forthcoming by-elections

There are currently no forthcoming by-elections. After the

death of Queen Elizabeth II On 8 September 2022, at 15:10 BST, Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, and the longest-reigning British monarch, died of old age at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, at the age of 96. The Queen's death wa ...

on 8 September 2022, the

Marquess of Cholmondeley Marquess of Cholmondeley ( ) is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1815 for George Cholmondeley, 4th Earl of Cholmondeley. History The Cholmondeley family descends from William le Belward (or de Belward), the f ...

’s service as Lord Great Chamberlain came to an end; his successor was

Lord Carrington Peter Alexander Rupert Carington, 6th Baron Carrington, Baron Carington of Upton, (6 June 1919 – 9July 2018), was a British Conservative Party politician and hereditary peer who served as Defence Secretary from 1970 to 1974, Foreign Secret ...

, who was already an elected hereditary peer. No by-election to fill a 92nd place for hereditary peers has been called.

Historical by-elections

From the

1707 Act of Union The Acts of Union ( gd, Achd an Aonaidh) were two Acts of Parliament: the Union with Scotland Act 1706 passed by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act 1707 passed by the Parliament of Scotland. They put into effect the te ...

to the passing of the

Peerage Act 1963 The Peerage Act 1963 (c. 48) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that permits women peeresses and all Scottish hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords and allows newly inherited hereditary peerages to be disclaimed. Backgro ...

, peers in the

Peerage of Scotland The Peerage of Scotland ( gd, Moraireachd na h-Alba, sco, Peerage o Scotland) is one of the five divisions of peerages in the United Kingdom and for those peers created by the King of Scots before 1707. Following that year's Treaty of Union, ...

elected sixteen representative peers to sit in the House of Lords. Unlike Irish peers, however, Scottish representative peers only sat for the duration of one parliament before facing re-election. By-elections were held in the

Palace of Holyroodhouse The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh ...

to replace deceased peers. After the passing of the Peerage Act 1963, all Scottish peers were entitled to sit in the House of Lords and the election procedure was abolished. Also, from the

1801 Act of Union The Acts of Union 1800 (sometimes incorrectly referred to as a single 'Act of Union 1801') were parallel acts of the Parliament of Great Britain and the Parliament of Ireland which united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Irela ...

to Irish independence, 28

representative peers In the United Kingdom, representative peers were those peers elected by the members of the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of Ireland to sit in the British House of Lords. Until 1999, all members of the Peerage of England held the right to ...

were elected from and by the

Peerage of Ireland The Peerage of Ireland consists of those titles of nobility created by the English monarchs in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland, or later by monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It is one of the five divisi ...

to sit in the British House of Lords. Like current hereditary peers, these representative peers sat for life terms and deceased peers were replaced in by-elections. Unlike modern hereditary peer by-elections, all peers in the Peerage of Ireland, even those who did not sit in the House of Lords, were entitled to vote. Upon the creation of the

Irish Free State The Irish Free State ( ga, Saorstát Éireann, , ; 6 December 192229 December 1937) was a state established in December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. The treaty ended the three-year Irish War of Independence between th ...

, the officers required to officiate these by-elections were abolished and thus no more were held, but those peers already elected kept their seats for the remainder of their lives. The last to sit in the Lords was

Francis Needham, 4th Earl of Kilmorey Captain Francis Charles Adelbert Henry Needham, 4th Earl of Kilmorey (26 November 1883 – 11 January 1961), styled Viscount Newry until 1915, was a Royal Navy officer and Anglo-Irish peer. In 1916 he was appointed as an Irish representative ...

, who died in 1961.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:By-elections to the House of Lords House of Lords By-elections in the United Kingdom Parliament of the United Kingdom Lists of by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom