The Burns report on Shrinking the Lords: Where are we, One Year on?

House of Lords

28 November 2018 

The River Room, House of Lords: enter via Black Rod’s Garden Entrance, London SW1P 3JY

In recent years the size of the House of Lords has become increasingly controversial, with the number of members standing at around 800 – up from fewer than 700 in 1999. In December 2016, following a motion in the House of Lords itself demanding action, the Lord Speaker’s Committee on the Size of the House was established, chaired by the Crossbencher Lord (Terry) Burns. It reported at the end of October 2017, proposing a system of phased retirements, crucially combined with a more regulated and sustainable system for new appointments. At this event Lord Burns will reflect upon progress (or lack thereof) since his report was published, alongside Labour’s Baroness (Ann) Taylor of Bolton, who served on his committee and chairs the House of Lords Constitution Committee, and Conservative Sir Bernard Jenkin, who chairs the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC).

Key Links

Lord Speaker’s Committee on the Size of the House

November 2017 Constitution Unit blog post by David Beamish summarising the proposals

December 2017 Constitution Unit blog post by Meg Russell asking ‘What Next?’

2015 Constitution Unit report on the size of the House of Lords

Speakers:

Lord Burns, Chair of the Lord Speaker’s Committee on the Size of the House of Lords;

Baroness Taylor, Chair of the Lords Constitution Committee;

Sir Bernard Jenkin MP, Chair of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Chair: Professor Meg Russell, Constitution Unit