List of hereditary peers of the House of Lords since 1999 explained

This is a list of hereditary peers of the House of Lords since the reforms of the House of Lords Act 1999. The Act excluded all hereditary peers who were not also life peers except for two holders of royal offices plus 90 other peers, to be chosen by the House. The initial cohort were elected in the 1999 House of Lords elections. Between 1999 and November 2002 vacancies among this group were filled by runners-up in the 1999 election. Since then by-elections to the House of Lords have filled vacancies.

For both the 1999 elections and by-elections candidature is restricted to peers in the Peerages of England, Scotland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Peers in the Peerage of Ireland are only eligible if they hold a title in one of the other peerages, but if elected, they may use their Irish peerage whilst in the Lords. Electorates are either the whole House or a party group of sitting hereditary peers within. A Standing Order of the House, approved prior to enactment of the Act, mandates that the remaining elected hereditary peers consist of:[1]

These numbers elected by each group reflected the relative strengths of the parties among hereditary peers at the time of the Act. This allocation has remained unchanged since 1999.

The fifteen peers elected by the whole house were intended to provide a group of experienced members ready to serve as Deputy Speakers or other officers.

Ex officio members

Earl Marshal

The Earl Marshal is an hereditary post held by the Duke of Norfolk.

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsTenure
Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk
Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolkpresent

Lord Great Chamberlain

The Lord Great Chamberlain is a hereditary office in gross post among the Cholmondeley, Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby and Carington families.

In 1902 it was ruled by the House of Lords that the then joint office holders (the 1st Earl of Ancaster, the 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and the Earl Carrington, later Marquess of Lincolnshire) had to agree on a deputy to exercise the office, subject to the approval of the Sovereign. Should there be no such agreement, the Sovereign should appoint a deputy until an agreement be reached.[4]

In 1912 an agreement was reached. The office, or right to appoint the person to exercise the office, would thereafter rotate among the three joint office holders and their heirs after them, changing at the start of each successive reign. Cholmondeley and his heirs would serve in every other reign; Ancaster and Carrington would each serve once in four reigns.[5]

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsTenure
David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley
Rupert Carington, 7th Baron Carrington
present

Elected by the whole House

Sitting

Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords PartyFirst satElectedReplacing
Euan Geddes, 3rd Baron GeddesConservative19751999
John Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles
Conservative1999Morys Bruce, 4th Baron Aberdare
David Pollock, 3rd Viscount Hanworth
Labour1996David Kenworthy, 11th Baron Strabolgi
Charles Colville, 5th Viscount Colville of CulrossCrossbencher2011Geoffrey Russell, 4th Baron Ampthill
Jamie Borwick, 5th Baron BorwickConservative2013Hugh Mackay, 14th Lord Reay
Raymond Asquith, 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith
Elected as Liberal Democrat; became non-affiliated in 2019, Crossbencher in 2021[6]
Crossbencher2014Robert Methuen, 7th Baron Methuen
Alastair Campbell, 4th Baron ColgrainConservative2017Charles Lyell, 3rd Baron Lyell
Aeneas Mackay, 15th Lord ReayConservative2019Roger Bootle-Wilbraham, 7th Baron Skelmersdale
Richard Denison, 9th Baron Londesborough
Crossbencher1996Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar
Jasset Ormsby-Gore, 7th Baron HarlechConservative2021Rodney Elton, 2nd Baron Elton
David Hacking, 3rd Baron Hacking
Labour1971Jan David Simon, 3rd Viscount Simon
Massey Lopes, 4th Baron RoboroughConservative2022Nicholas Lowther, 2nd Viscount Ullswater
Timothy Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 7th Earl of MintoConservative2022Anthony Hamilton-Smith, 3rd Baron Colwyn
John Russell, 7th Earl RussellLiberal Democrat2023Lucius Cary, 15th Viscount Falkland
William Stonor, 8th Baron CamoysConservative2023Michael Brougham, 5th Baron Brougham and Vaux

Deceased

Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords PartyFirst satElectedReplacingDied
George Makgill, 13th Viscount of OxfuirdConservative19861999
Morys Bruce, 4th Baron AberdareConservative19571999
David Kenworthy, 11th Baron StrabolgiLabour19531999
Geoffrey Russell, 4th Baron AmpthillCrossbencher19731999
Hugh Mackay, 14th Lord ReayConservative19631999
Robert Methuen, 7th Baron MethuenLiberal Democrats19941999
Charles Lyell, 3rd Baron LyellConservative19601999
Roger Bootle-Wilbraham, 7th Baron SkelmersdaleConservative19731999
Jan David Simon, 3rd Viscount SimonLabour19931999
Michael Brougham, 5th Baron Brougham and VauxConservative19681999

Resigned

Pursuant to section 1 of House of Lords Reform Act 2014

Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords PartyFirst satElectedReplacingResigned Died
Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of MarCrossbencher19751999
Rodney Elton, 2nd Baron EltonConservative19731999
Nicholas Lowther, 2nd Viscount Ullswater
Conservative19662003George Makgill, 13th Viscount of Oxfuird
Anthony Hamilton-Smith, 3rd Baron ColwynConservative19661999
Lucius Cary, 15th Viscount Falkland
Crossbencher19841999

Elected by the Conservative hereditary peers

Sitting Conservative peers

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsQualifying title, if different from highest titleFirst satElectedReplacing
Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde19861999
David Trefgarne, 2nd Baron Trefgarne19621999
Benjamin Mancroft, 3rd Baron Mancroft19871999
Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe19841999
Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness19691999
Oliver Eden, 8th Baron HenleyBaron Northington19771999
Simon Arthur, 4th Baron Glenarthur19761999
William Astor, 4th Viscount Astor19721999
Patrick Stopford, 9th Earl of CourtownBaron Salterford19751999
William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel
19731999
Colin Moynihan, 4th Baron Moynihan19971999
John Attlee, 3rd Earl Attlee19921999
Giles Goschen, 4th Viscount Goschen19861999
James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose19921999
Robin Bridgeman, 3rd Viscount Bridgeman19821999
James Lindesay-Bethune, 16th Earl of Lindsay19891999
Ralph Palmer, 12th Baron Lucas19911999
James Dugdale, 2nd Baron Crathorne19771999
Richard Fletcher-Vane, 2nd Baron Inglewood
19891999
Francis Baring, 6th Baron Northbrook19901999
Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 22nd Earl of Shrewsbury19801999
Edward Foljambe, 5th Earl of Liverpool19691999
Arthur Gore, 9th Earl of ArranBaron Sudley19831999
Alexander Scrymgeour, 12th Earl of Dundee19831999
Hugh Trenchard, 3rd Viscount Trenchard
1987Nicholas Vivian, 6th Baron Vivian
Rupert Ponsonby, 7th Baron de Mauley2005Hugh Lawson, 6th Baron Burnham
Charles Cathcart, 7th Earl Cathcart
1999Charles Stourton, 26th Baron Mowbray
James Younger, 5th Viscount Younger of Leckie2010David Carnegie, 14th Earl of Northesk
Henry Ashton, 4th Baron Ashton of Hyde2011Michael Onslow, 7th Earl of Onslow
Charles Wellesley, 9th Duke of Wellington
2015Arthur Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron Luke
Nicholas Fairfax, 14th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
1977Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu
James Bethell, 5th Baron Bethell2018Robin Dixon, 3rd Baron Glentoran
Guy Mansfield, 6th Baron Sandhurst2021John Palmer, 4th Earl of Selborne
Thomas Coke, 8th Earl of Leicester2021Bertram Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham
Sebastian Grigg, 4th Baron Altrincham2021Malcolm Mitchell-Thomson, 3rd Baron Selsdon
Ian Macpherson, 3rd Baron Strathcarron2022Matthew White Ridley, 5th Viscount Ridley
Jonathan Berry, 5th Viscount Camrose2022Robin Cayzer, 3rd Baron Rotherwick
Philip Remnant, 4th Baron Remnant2022Ivon Moore-Brabazon, 3rd Baron Brabazon of Tara
Clifton Wrottesley, 6th Baron Wrottesley
1993Roger Swinfen Eady, 3rd Baron Swinfen
Edward Howard, 8th Earl of Effingham2022John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever
Mark Cubitt, 5th Baron Ashcombe2022David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home

Deceased Conservative peers

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsFirst satElectedReplacingDied
Nicholas Vivian, 6th Baron Vivian19911999
Hugh Lawson, 6th Baron Burnham19931999
Charles Stourton, 26th Baron Mowbray19651999
David Carnegie, 14th Earl of Northesk19941999
Michael Onslow, 7th Earl of Onslow19711999
Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers19541999
Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu19471999
Roger Swinfen Eady, 3rd Baron Swinfen19771999
David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home1995199922 August 2022

Resigned Conservative peers

Pursuant to section 1 of House of Lords Reform Act 2014

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsFirst satElectedReplacingResigned Died
Arthur Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron Luke19961999
Robin Dixon, 3rd Baron Glentoran19951999
John Palmer, 4th Earl of Selborne
19711999
Bertram Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham19491999
Matthew White Ridley, 5th Viscount Ridley2013Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers
Robin Cayzer, 3rd Baron Rotherwick19961999
Ivon Moore-Brabazon, 3rd Baron Brabazon of Tara19761999
John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever19841999

Removed Conservative peers

Pursuant to section 2 of House of Lords Reform Act 2014

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsFirst satElectedReplacingRemoved Died
Malcolm Mitchell-Thomson, 3rd Baron Selsdon19631999
David Verney, 21st Baron Willoughby de Broke
198619999 July 2024

Elected by the Crossbencher hereditary peers

Sitting Crossbench peers

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsQualifying title, if different from highest titleFirst satElectedReplacing
Valerian Freyberg, 3rd Baron Freyberg19931999
Anthony St John, 22nd Baron St John of Bletso19781999
Alan Brooke, 3rd Viscount Brookeborough19871999
Merlin Hay, 24th Earl of Erroll19781999
Janric Craig, 3rd Viscount Craigavon19741999
John Anderson, 3rd Viscount Waverley19901999
Ambrose Greenway, 4th Baron Greenway19751999
Peter St Clair-Erskine, 7th Earl of Rosslyn19791999
John Dalrymple, 14th Earl of Stair
1996Davina Ingrams, 18th Baroness Darcy de Knayth
Alastair Bruce, 5th Baron Aberdare2009Christopher Bathurst, 3rd Viscount Bledisloe
Nicholas Trench, 9th Earl of ClancartyViscount Clanarty1995Mark Colville, 4th Viscount Colville of Culross
John Lytton, 5th Earl of Lytton
1985John Monson, 11th Baron Monson
Godfrey Bewicke-Copley, 7th Baron Cromwell
1982John Wilson, 2nd Baron Moran
Simon Russell, 3rd Baron Russell of Liverpool
1981Michael Allenby, 3rd Viscount Allenby
John Seymour, 19th Duke of Somerset
1984David Lytton Cobbold, 2nd Baron Cobbold
Roualeyn Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, 9th Baron Thurlow2015Roger Chorley, 2nd Baron Chorley
Charles Hay, 16th Earl of Kinnoull2015Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun
Jeffrey Evans, 4th Baron Mountevans2015William Lloyd George, 3rd Viscount Tenby
Patrick Lawrence, 5th Baron Trevethin2015David Montgomery, 2nd Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
John Boyle, 15th Earl of CorkBaron Boyle of Marston2016Thomas Bridges, 2nd Baron Bridges
Richard Gilbey, 12th Baron Vaux of Harrowden2017Robert Walpole, 10th Baron Walpole
Charles Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon2018Edward Baldwin, 4th Earl Baldwin of Bewdley
Rupert Carington, 7th Baron Carrington
2018Christopher James, 5th Baron Northbourne
Daniel Mosley, 4th Baron Ravensdale2019John Slim, 2nd Viscount Slim
John Pakington, 7th Baron Hampton2022Francis Hare, 6th Earl of Listowel
James Meston, 3rd Baron Meston
1984Adrian Palmer, 4th Baron Palmer
Miles Russell, 28th Baron de Clifford2023Raymond Jolliffe, 5th Baron Hylton

Deceased Crossbench peers

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsFirst satElectedReplacingDied
Ziki Robertson, 11th Baroness Wharton19901999
Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon19871999
Cherry Drummond, 16th Baroness Strange19861999
Davina Ingrams, 18th Baroness Darcy de Knayth
19631999
Christopher Bathurst, 3rd Viscount Bledisloe19791999
Mark Colville, 4th Viscount Colville of Culross19541999
John Monson, 11th Baron Monson19581999
John Wilson, 2nd Baron Moran19771999
Michael Allenby, 3rd Viscount Allenby19841999
John Slim, 2nd Viscount Slim19701999
Adrian Palmer, 4th Baron Palmer19901999

Resigned Crossbench peers

Pursuant to section 1 of House of Lords Reform Act 2014

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsQualifying title, if different from highest titleFirst satElectedReplacingResigned Died
David Lytton Cobbold, 2nd Baron Cobbold
1987Ziki Robertson, 11th Baroness Wharton
Roger Chorley, 2nd Baron Chorley
1987Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon
Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun19791999
William Lloyd George, 3rd Viscount Tenby19831999
David Montgomery, 2nd Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
1976Cherry Drummond, 16th Baroness Strange
Robert Walpole, 10th Baron Walpole19891999
Edward Baldwin, 4th Earl Baldwin of Bewdley19761999
Christopher James, 5th Baron Northbourne19821999
Francis Hare, 6th Earl of ListowelBaron Hare19971999
Raymond Jolliffe, 5th Baron Hylton19681999
John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich19951999

Removed Crossbench peers

Pursuant to section 2 of House of Lords Reform Act 2014

Elected by the Labour hereditary peers

Sitting Labour peers

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsFirst satElectedReplacing
John Suenson-Taylor, 3rd Baron Grantchester
1995Michael Milner, 2nd Baron Milner of Leeds
Stephen Benn, 3rd Viscount Stansgate2021Nicolas Rea, 3rd Baron Rea

Deceased Labour peers

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsFirst satElectedReplacingDied
Michael Milner, 2nd Baron Milner of Leeds19671999
Nicolas Rea, 3rd Baron Rea19821999

Elected by the Liberal Democrats hereditary peers

Sitting Liberal Democrats peers

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsFirst satElectedReplacing
Dominic Hubbard, 6th Baron Addington19821999
Patrick Boyle, 10th Earl of Glasgow
1984Conrad Russell, 5th Earl Russell
John Archibald Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso
1995Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury

Deceased Liberal Democrats peers

Hereditary peer and title used in the LordsFirst satElectedReplacingDied
Conrad Russell, 5th Earl Russell19871999
Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury19711999

Current party composition

, the party affiliations of the elected hereditary peers are as follows:[7]

AffiliationElected byTotal
Conservative
Crossbench
Labour

37[8] [9] 9 46
Crossbenchers 2 27[10] 3[11] 32
2 2 4
3 14
2 2
Total4127231588

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hansard, Vol 604 No 126 Cols 1290–1292 . 1999-07-26 . 2008-05-19.
  2. For example:
    • Web site: By-elections to replace six hereditary peers . 2023-11-06 . parliament.uk . 12 May 2021 . Under the terms of an informal agreement amongst the parties and groups in the House of Lords, it is expected that this vacancy will be filled by an hereditary peer who will sit as a crossbench member of the House.
    • Hereditary Peers: By-elections. House of Lords. 10 November 2021. 1703. Lord True. Yes, there is a by-election today. I have voted in it and, in accordance with the Carter convention, I voted for a Labour Peer. I have kept to the agreements made in 1999..
  3. Web site: 1999-07-26 . Hansard, Vol 604 No 126 Cols 1290-1292 . 2008-05-19 . Publications.parliament.uk.
  4. House of Lords. Office Of Lord Great Chamberlain. May 6, 1902.
  5. http://www.debretts.com/people/royal-family/the-royal-household/great-officers-of-state.aspx Great Officers of State: The Lord Great Chamberlain and The Earl Marshal
  6. Web site: House of Lords, Official Website – Eal of Oxford and Asquith. 9 September 2019.
  7. Web site: Lords by party, type of peerage and gender . UK Parliament.
  8. [Richard Fletcher-Vane, 2nd Baron Inglewood|Lord Inglewood]
  9. [William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel|Earl Peel]
  10. Number includes Lord Carrington, who would otherwise be an ex officio member by virtue of holding the office of Lord Great Chamberlain.
  11. [Raymond Asquith, 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith|Earl of Oxford and Asquith]