House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-1"><num>1</num><heading>Exclusion of remaining hereditary peers</heading><content><p>Omit <ref eId="c00001" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/34/section/2">section 2</ref> of the <ref eId="c00002" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/34/contents">House of Lords Act 1999</ref> (exception to exclusion of hereditary peers from membership of House of Lords).</p></content></section>
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" xmlns:uk="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/UK-AKN" xmlns:ukl="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation" eId="section-2"><num>2</num><heading>Resignation</heading><content><p><mod>In <ref eId="c00003" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/section/1">section 1</ref> of the <ref eId="c00004" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/contents">House of Lords Reform Act 2014</ref> (resignation), after <ref eId="c00005" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/section/1">subsection (4)</ref> insert—<quotedStructure startQuote="“" endQuote="”" uk:context="body" uk:docName="ukpga" ukl:TargetClass="primary" ukl:TargetSubClass="unknown" ukl:Context="main" ukl:Format="double"><subsection><num>(5)</num><content><p>Where a notice under this section is given and signed by a person on behalf of a peer who lacks capacity to give or sign the notice, the notice must be given and signed in accordance with Standing Orders of the House.</p></content></subsection></quotedStructure></mod></p></content></section>
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-3"><num>3</num><heading>Claims to hereditary peerages</heading><subsection eId="section-3-1"><num>(1)</num><content><p>The jurisdiction of the House of Lords in relation to claims to hereditary peerages is abolished.</p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-3-2"><num>(2)</num><content><p>For the purposes of <ref href="#section-3">this section</ref> a claim to a hereditary peerage includes a claim to a hereditary peerage in abeyance.</p></content></subsection></section>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-3-1"><num>(1)</num><content><p>The jurisdiction of the House of Lords in relation to claims to hereditary peerages is abolished.</p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-3-2"><num>(2)</num><content><p>For the purposes of <ref href="#section-3">this section</ref> a claim to a hereditary peerage includes a claim to a hereditary peerage in abeyance.</p></content></subsection>
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-4"><num>4</num><heading>Consequential amendments</heading><subsection eId="section-4-1"><num>(1)</num><intro><p>In the <ref eId="c00006" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/48/contents">Peerage Act 1963</ref>—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-4-1-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00007" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/48/section/1">section 1</ref><ref eId="c00008" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/48/section/1">(2)</ref> (disclaimer of certain hereditary peerages), omit the words from “; and no such instrument” to the end;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-1-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>omit section 4 (Scottish peerages) and the italic heading before it;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-1-c"><num>(c)</num><content><p>omit section 6 (peeresses in own right).</p></content></level></subsection><subsection eId="section-4-2"><num>(2)</num><intro><p>In the <ref eId="c00009" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/34/contents">House of Lords Act 1999</ref>—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-4-2-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>omit section 3(2) (disqualifications in relation to House of Commons applicable to hereditary peers);</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-2-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>omit paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 (amendment of Peerage Act 1963).</p></content></level></subsection><subsection eId="section-4-3"><num>(3)</num><intro><p>In the <ref eId="c00010" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/25/contents">Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010</ref>, in <ref eId="c00011" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/25/section/42">section 42</ref> (tax status of members of House of Lords: transitional provision)—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-4-3-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>omit subsections (3) and (4);</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-3-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00012" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/25/section/42">subsection (5)</ref>, omit “If M is not such a person,”;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-3-c"><num>(c)</num><intro><p>in <ref eId="c00013" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/25/section/42">subsection (8)</ref>—</p></intro><level class="para2" eId="section-4-3-c-i"><num>(i)</num><content><p>omit “or M succeeds to a peerage”;</p></content></level><level class="para2" eId="section-4-3-c-ii"><num>(ii)</num><content><p>omit the words from “If subsection (3)(a)” to the end;</p></content></level></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-3-d"><num>(d)</num><content><p>omit subsection (9).</p></content></level></subsection><subsection eId="section-4-4"><num>(4)</num><intro><p>In the <ref eId="c00014" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/contents">House of Lords Reform Act 2014</ref>, in <ref eId="c00015" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/section/4">section 4</ref> (effect of ceasing to be a member)—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-4-4-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00016" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/section/4">subsection (3)</ref>, omit “, by virtue of a hereditary peerage”;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-4-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>omit subsection (4);</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-4-c"><num>(c)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00017" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/section/4">subsection (5)</ref>, omit “other than a hereditary peer”;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-4-d"><num>(d)</num><content><p>omit subsection (7).</p></content></level></subsection></section>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-4-1"><num>(1)</num><intro><p>In the <ref eId="c00006" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/48/contents">Peerage Act 1963</ref>—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-4-1-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00007" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/48/section/1">section 1</ref><ref eId="c00008" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/48/section/1">(2)</ref> (disclaimer of certain hereditary peerages), omit the words from “; and no such instrument” to the end;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-1-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>omit section 4 (Scottish peerages) and the italic heading before it;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-1-c"><num>(c)</num><content><p>omit section 6 (peeresses in own right).</p></content></level></subsection>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-1-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00007" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/48/section/1">section 1</ref><ref eId="c00008" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/48/section/1">(2)</ref> (disclaimer of certain hereditary peerages), omit the words from “; and no such instrument” to the end;</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-1-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>omit section 4 (Scottish peerages) and the italic heading before it;</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-1-c"><num>(c)</num><content><p>omit section 6 (peeresses in own right).</p></content></level>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-4-2"><num>(2)</num><intro><p>In the <ref eId="c00009" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/34/contents">House of Lords Act 1999</ref>—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-4-2-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>omit section 3(2) (disqualifications in relation to House of Commons applicable to hereditary peers);</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-2-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>omit paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 (amendment of Peerage Act 1963).</p></content></level></subsection>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-2-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>omit section 3(2) (disqualifications in relation to House of Commons applicable to hereditary peers);</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-2-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>omit paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 (amendment of Peerage Act 1963).</p></content></level>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-4-3"><num>(3)</num><intro><p>In the <ref eId="c00010" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/25/contents">Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010</ref>, in <ref eId="c00011" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/25/section/42">section 42</ref> (tax status of members of House of Lords: transitional provision)—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-4-3-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>omit subsections (3) and (4);</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-3-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00012" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/25/section/42">subsection (5)</ref>, omit “If M is not such a person,”;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-3-c"><num>(c)</num><intro><p>in <ref eId="c00013" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/25/section/42">subsection (8)</ref>—</p></intro><level class="para2" eId="section-4-3-c-i"><num>(i)</num><content><p>omit “or M succeeds to a peerage”;</p></content></level><level class="para2" eId="section-4-3-c-ii"><num>(ii)</num><content><p>omit the words from “If subsection (3)(a)” to the end;</p></content></level></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-3-d"><num>(d)</num><content><p>omit subsection (9).</p></content></level></subsection>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-3-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>omit subsections (3) and (4);</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-3-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00012" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/25/section/42">subsection (5)</ref>, omit “If M is not such a person,”;</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-3-c"><num>(c)</num><intro><p>in <ref eId="c00013" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/25/section/42">subsection (8)</ref>—</p></intro><level class="para2" eId="section-4-3-c-i"><num>(i)</num><content><p>omit “or M succeeds to a peerage”;</p></content></level><level class="para2" eId="section-4-3-c-ii"><num>(ii)</num><content><p>omit the words from “If subsection (3)(a)” to the end;</p></content></level></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para2" eId="section-4-3-c-i"><num>(i)</num><content><p>omit “or M succeeds to a peerage”;</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para2" eId="section-4-3-c-ii"><num>(ii)</num><content><p>omit the words from “If subsection (3)(a)” to the end;</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-3-d"><num>(d)</num><content><p>omit subsection (9).</p></content></level>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-4-4"><num>(4)</num><intro><p>In the <ref eId="c00014" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/contents">House of Lords Reform Act 2014</ref>, in <ref eId="c00015" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/section/4">section 4</ref> (effect of ceasing to be a member)—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-4-4-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00016" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/section/4">subsection (3)</ref>, omit “, by virtue of a hereditary peerage”;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-4-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>omit subsection (4);</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-4-c"><num>(c)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00017" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/section/4">subsection (5)</ref>, omit “other than a hereditary peer”;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-4-4-d"><num>(d)</num><content><p>omit subsection (7).</p></content></level></subsection>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-4-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00016" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/section/4">subsection (3)</ref>, omit “, by virtue of a hereditary peerage”;</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-4-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>omit subsection (4);</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-4-c"><num>(c)</num><content><p>in <ref eId="c00017" href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/24/section/4">subsection (5)</ref>, omit “other than a hereditary peer”;</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-4-4-d"><num>(d)</num><content><p>omit subsection (7).</p></content></level>
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-5"><num>5</num><heading>Extent and commencement</heading><subsection eId="section-5-1"><num>(1)</num><content><p>An amendment or repeal made by <ref href="#section-1">section 1</ref>, <ref href="#section-2">2</ref> or <ref href="#section-4">4</ref> has the same extent as the provision amended or repealed.</p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-5-2"><num>(2)</num><content><p><ref href="#section-3">Section 3</ref>, <ref href="#section-5">this section</ref> and <ref href="#section-6">section 6</ref> extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.</p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-5-3"><num>(3)</num><content><p>Section <ref href="#section-2">2</ref>, this section and <ref href="#section-6">section 6</ref> come into force on the day on which this Act is passed.</p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-5-4"><num>(4)</num><content><p>The other provisions of this Act come into force at the end of the Session of Parliament in which this Act is passed.</p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-5-5"><num>(5)</num><content><p>Accordingly, any writ of summons issued for the present Parliament in right of a hereditary peerage is of no effect after that Session.</p></content></subsection></section>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-5-1"><num>(1)</num><content><p>An amendment or repeal made by <ref href="#section-1">section 1</ref>, <ref href="#section-2">2</ref> or <ref href="#section-4">4</ref> has the same extent as the provision amended or repealed.</p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-5-2"><num>(2)</num><content><p><ref href="#section-3">Section 3</ref>, <ref href="#section-5">this section</ref> and <ref href="#section-6">section 6</ref> extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.</p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-5-3"><num>(3)</num><content><p>Section <ref href="#section-2">2</ref>, this section and <ref href="#section-6">section 6</ref> come into force on the day on which this Act is passed.</p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-5-4"><num>(4)</num><content><p>The other provisions of this Act come into force at the end of the Session of Parliament in which this Act is passed.</p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-5-5"><num>(5)</num><content><p>Accordingly, any writ of summons issued for the present Parliament in right of a hereditary peerage is of no effect after that Session.</p></content></subsection>
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-6"><num>6</num><heading>Short title</heading><content><p>This Act may be cited as the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026.</p></content></section>