Labour's New Peerages Increase House of Lords Membership Amid Calls for Reform
Since July 2024, Labour has appointed 96 unelected peers, including 34 new life peers announced on 11 December 2025. This influx has increased the House of Lords membership, now comprising 282 Conservatives and 209 Labour peers. The 34 new peers are mainly Labour supporters, which has escalated what is described as an 'ermine arms race,' complicating prospects for reform.
Despite Labour’s manifesto promises to reform the Lords—such as ending hereditary peers, revising appointments, changing retirement age, and replacing the Lords—progress remains limited beyond the hereditary peers bill nearing passage. The membership has grown from 666 members after Blair-era reforms to about 850 today and may surpass 1,500 combined MPs and peers.
Calls have intensified to cap the Lords’ size at or below that of the Commons, with proposals including new rules to limit prime ministerial appointments, as advocated by Meg Russell of the UCL Constitution Unit. Since 2024, the government has lost more than 100 divisions in the Lords, including on the employment rights bill and an assisted-dying private member’s bill.
There is concern that without meaningful reform, future prime ministers—such as Nigel Farage—could further flood the Lords with new peers. While Starmer pledged significant reform of the Lords, critics argue that these promises have yet to be fulfilled.
