Read Meg Russell's piece on reforming the House of Lords
There are 227 Conservative peers, 215 Labour, 105 Liberal Democrat and 182 crossbench
But the benches in the chamber seat only 200 comfortably
Prior to the 1999 reform there were 654 hereditary peers
In 1801 there were only 350 members
1958: Life Peerages Act allowed for the creation of life peers and enabled women to sit for the first time
1999: House of Lords Act removed the right of all but 92 hereditary peers to sit
The House of Lords swells...
There are 846 peers, though 790 are currently able to sit in the Lords because one is suspended, eight are disqualified (for instance because they are members of the judiciary) and 47 are on leave of absenceThere are 227 Conservative peers, 215 Labour, 105 Liberal Democrat and 182 crossbench
But the benches in the chamber seat only 200 comfortably
Prior to the 1999 reform there were 654 hereditary peers
In 1801 there were only 350 members
...As its powers shrink
1911: Parliament Act removed the power to veto a bill from the House of Lords1958: Life Peerages Act allowed for the creation of life peers and enabled women to sit for the first time
1999: House of Lords Act removed the right of all but 92 hereditary peers to sit
