House of Lords (Expulsion and Suspension) Act 2015
Long title | An Act to make provision empowering the House of Lords to expel or suspend members. |
---|---|
Citation | 2015 c. 14 |
Introduced by | Sir George Young (Commons) Helene Valerie Hayman, Baroness Hayman (Lords) |
Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
Dates | |
Royal assent | 26 March 2015 |
Commencement | 26 June 2015 |
Status: Current legislation | |
Text of statute as originally enacted |
The House of Lords (Expulsion and Suspension) Act 2015 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom which authorised the House of Lords to expel a member, or to suspend a member for a definite period of time.[1] This power may only be exercised for conduct which either was committed or became public knowledge after the Act comes into force.[2] A member who is expelled is disqualified from becoming a member again.[3]
This act arose from a private member's bill sponsored by Baroness Hayman and Sir George Young.[4]
Background[]
Historically the House of Lords had no power to expel a member from the House, even if they had committed a criminal offence or been imprisoned.[4] An example of this was when Lord Black of Crossharbour was imprisoned for 3 years and was placed on a leave of absence from the House but only had to give three months notice in order to return.[5] The strongest sanction the House of Lords could issue against a peer was a suspension for the rest of the Parliamentary session.[4]
In 2009, the Committee for Privileges and Conduct issued a report suggesting that the House be granted the power to expel members. The resulting House of Lords Reform Act 2014 allowed for expulsions to be made on grounds of non-attendance or serious criminal conviction.[6] However it was felt these powers were insufficient.[4] The House of Lords (Expulsion and Suspension) Bill was first introduced to Parliament as a Private Members Bill by Baroness Hayman in the House of Lords before progressing to the House of Commons where it was sponsored by Sir George Young.[7] It received Royal Assent from Queen Elizabeth II on 26 March 2015.[7]
Effect[]
The Act granted the House of Lords the power to amend their Standing Orders to allow for peers to be expelled for breaching the House of Lords code of conduct.[7] Any peer ejected in this manner would still be entitled to keep their title.[7] The Act was cited by Lord Speaker Baroness D'Souza as evidence for the House of Lords reforming.[8]
It was speculated that the power would first be used after Lord Sewel was filmed allegedly taking cocaine, however Lord Sewel resigned in July 2015 before the investigation could take place.[9]
The first peer recommended for expulsion by the Lords Conduct Committee was Lord Ahmed in November 2020, who subsequently resigned from the Lords as well.[10]
See also[]
- Reform of the House of Lords (details reform proposals put forward since 1997)
- History of reform of the House of Lords (details reforms enacted since the 16th century)
- House of Lords Reform Act 2014 (whose provisions were amended by the 2015 Act)
References[]
- ^ Section 1.
- ^ Section 1(4).
- ^ Section 3.
- ^ a b c d "House of Lords (Expulsion and Suspension) Act" (pdf). Parliament of the United Kingdom. 1 July 2016. Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - ^ Waterson, Jim (16 May 2019). "Trump pardons fraudster Conrad Black after glowing biography". The Guardian.
- ^ "Four absent peers cease to be House of Lords members". BBC News. 19 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d "House of Lords (Expulsion and Suspension) Act 2015 - Commons Library briefing". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 1 July 2016.
- ^ D'Souza, Baroness (31 July 2015). "The Lords must never be sullied by errant peers again". Telegraph.
- ^ "Who is Lord Sewel and what are House of Lords rules?". BBC News. 28 July 2015.
- ^ "Lord Ahmed retires from Parliament days before expulsion". BBC Newsnight. 17 November 2020.
- United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 2015
- Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom concerning the House of Lords
- Reform in the United Kingdom