Most peers live in and around London
The House of Lords is “totally failing” to represent UK regions, with most peers living in and around London, according to a new report.
The Electoral Reform Society has released new analysis as MPs prepare to debate a petition calling for the abolition of the upper chamber - signed by 170,000 supporters.
It shows that of the 564 peers whose place of residence is known, 306 (54%) live in either Greater London, the South East or the East of England, with 25% living in the capital itself.
The East Midlands, West Midlands and North West are all under-represented, with just 5% of peers living in the North West, compared to 11% of the public.
Electoral Reform Society chief executive Darren Hughes said: “These figures reveal the appalling centralisation of Parliament’s second chamber. This London-dominated house totally fails to represent huge swathes of the UK.
“Regions including the North West and the Midlands are not only under-represented, but those peers who say they live there do not represent each region’s diversity – whether in terms of their politics or otherwise.
“The Lords is looking increasingly like just another Westminster private members’ club – and it’s not hard to see why when the system is so unbalanced.”
Hughes, who spearheads a campaign for the Lords to be completely reformed with the introduction of elected peers, added: “Adding to the detachment between the House of Lords and UK citizens is the fact that so many peers are former politicians.
“When the PM can stuff a so-called scrutiny chamber with whoever they want, the result is that it fails to reflect the nation.
“That won’t be solved by bunging in a few more unelected cronies. Instead, a fairly-elected chamber of the regions would ensure guaranteed, proportional representation and a strong voice for all parts of the UK.”
The trouble is, every past attempt at making the House of Lords more representative has ended up making it less representative.
