Role of the House of Lords Appointments Commission
The House of Lords Appointments Commission, is an independent body established in 2000. The Commission is made up of seven people, including four members of the Lords and three members independent of the government and non-political.
The Commission recommends individuals for appointment as non-party-political life peers. It also vets nominations for life peers, including those nominated by the UK political parties, to ensure the highest standards of propriety. Members can be nominated by the public and political parties. Once approved by the prime minister, appointments are formalised by the Queen.
How a member is appointed
It normally takes several weeks from the time a potential new member is announced, by the government or the House of Lords Appointments Commission, to their actual appointment.
Before anyone becomes a member, a title has to be agreed and the Letters Patent and Writ of Summons documents must be prepared.
Letters Patent are issued by the Queen and create a life peerage. Recipients become members when Letters Patent are sealed. They can then be written to at the House of Lords, using their new title of Lord or Baroness. They cannot sit or vote until their ‘introduction’.
The Writ of Summons calls the member to the House and acts as their ‘entry ticket’. A new writ is issued for every member at the beginning of each Parliament (after a general election). A writ accompanies the Letters Patent for a new member.
Becoming a member of the Lords
An introduction, a short ceremony lasting about five minutes, takes place at the beginning of business. There are normally no more than two introductions a day in the Lords. Each new member has two supporters (sometimes from their party or group).
An oath of allegiance must be taken by all members before they can sit and vote in the House. Members take the oath on introduction, in every new Parliament and on the death of a monarch.
The first speech of a newly introduced member is called their maiden speech. This takes place during a debate and is marked with respect by the House. The following speaker will congratulate and welcome the new member. Maiden speeches are short and non-controversial.
Types of peerages
There are special circumstances when members are appointed:
- Life peerages may be given to some MPs (all parties) when they leave the House of Commons at the end of a parliament.
- When a prime minister resigns, he or she may recommend ‘resignation honours’ for politicians, their political advisers and others who have supported them.
- Members can be appointed, on a party basis on political lists to ‘top up’ each of the three main party groups’ strengths, on the expectation that they will attend regularly and perhaps take on frontbench work as spokespersons or business managers (whips).
- One-off announcements can cover peerages for particular individuals such as someone appointed as a minister who is not a member of the House.
- A limited number of 26 Church of England archbishops and bishops sit in the House. When they retire as bishops their membership of the House ceases and is passed on to the next most senior bishop. The Archbishop of Canterbury is usually given A life peerage on retirement.
- Former speakers of the House of Commons have traditionally been awarded a peerage at the request of the Commons.
Image: Roger Harris