Hansard Society welcomes proposals to evict peers

Immediate release, July 22, 2009

Responding to the publication of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill the Hansard Society has welcomed the news that in future peers who transgress - such as those convicted of criminal acts - will be evicted from the House of Lords.

However, the Hansard Society expressed concern that the Government is responding in piecemeal fashion to problems in the Upper House regarding standards and conduct. Dr Ruth Fox, Director of the Hansard Society' s Parliament and Government Programme commented: ‘If public trust in the House of Lords is to be restored then the right to evict peers from the House must be made possible. But on its own it will not be enough to restore trust in the Upper House.

‘Sanctions to evict peers are just one half of the equation. There are two important reviews currently underway regarding the House of Lords expenses and allowances system and the Peers Code of Conduct. There must be a commitment on all sides of the House to implement the recommendations of these reviews as well. The Code of Conduct in particular will help define what is unacceptable behaviour and therefore where sanctions will be needed.

In the next week the Hansard Society will publish a new briefing paper entitled Restoring Trust in the House of Lords. It will recommend substantial revisions to the Code of Conduct and a new hierarchy of sanctions which can be applied for breaches of the Code, putting transgressors beyond the pale with the ultimate sanction being eviction from the House of Lords.

For further information contact Kate Egglestone at the Hansard Society on mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk or 020 7438 1210

 Editors' Notes

• The Hansard Society is the UK's leading non-partisan political research and education charity which exists to strengthen parliamentary democracy and encourage greater public involvement in politics.
• The briefing paper Restoring Trust in the House of Lords will be available for download in pdf format in the next week from the Hansard Society website http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/
• The briefing paper will explore some of the complex issues of ethics, regulation, standards and trust that specifically affect the House of Lords including: the concept of a ‘professional' Upper House; issues of ethos and integrity; the application of a principles or rules-based regulatory framework; internal and external regulation; conflicts of interest and paid advocacy; revision of the Code of Conduct; the sanctions and enforcement regime; and leadership of the House.
• A further press release will be issued providing more details about the recommendations in this briefing paper on the day of publication.
• On May 21 2009 the Leader of the House of Lords announced that a Leaders Group would be established, chaired by the Rt Rev Lord Eames to review the House of Lords Code of Conduct and rules relating to members interests. It will report later this year.
• At the request of the House of Lords the Prime Minister has asked the Senior Salaries review Body to review the expenses and allowances available to members of the House of Lords.  It too will report later this year.