By-elections in the House of Lords

This page sets out notices, lists of candidates and results of recent hereditary peers' by-elections in the House of Lords.

Crossbench hereditary peers' by-election

A vacancy was created following the retirement of Lord Walpole, a Crossbench hereditary peer, on 13 June 2017.
A by-election was held on 19 July 2017 to fill the vacant seat. Lord Vaux of Harrowden was elected.

Hereditary peers' by-election

A vacancy was created following the death of Lord Lyell, one of the 15 hereditary peers elected by the whole House in 1999, on 11 January 2017.
A by-election was held on 21 March 2017 to fill the vacant seat. Lord Colgrain was elected.

Crossbench hereditary peers' by-election

A vacancy was created following Lord Bridges ceasing to be a member of the House on 18 May 2016 by virtue of non-attendance in session 2015–16. He was a Crossbench hereditary peer.
A by-election was held on 12 July 2016 to fill the vacant seat. The Earl of Cork and Orrery (Lord Boyle) was elected.


Liberal Democrat hereditary peers' by-election

A vacancy was created following the death of Lord Avebury, a Liberal Democrat hereditary peer, on 14 February 2016.
A by-election was held on 19 April 2016 to fill the vacant seat. Viscount Thurso was elected.

Conservative hereditary peers’ by-election

A vacancy was created following the death of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, a Conservative hereditary peer, on 31 August 2015.
A by-election was held on 24 November 2015 to fill the vacant seat. Lord Fairfax of Cameron was elected.

Crossbench hereditary peers’ by-election

A vacancy was created following the retirement of Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, a Crossbench hereditary peer, on 23 July 2015.
A by-election was held on 20 October 2015 to fill the vacant seat. Lord Trevethin and Oaksey was elected.

Conservative hereditary peers’ by-election

A vacancy was created following the retirement of Lord Luke, a Conservative hereditary peer, on 24 June 2015.
A by-election was held on 16 September 2015 to fill the vacant seat. The Duke of Wellington was elected.

Crossbench hereditary peers’ by-election

A vacancy was created following the retirement of Viscount Tenby, a Crossbench hereditary peer, on 1 May 2015.
A by-election was held on 7 July 2015 to fill the vacant seat. Lord Mountevans was elected.

Crossbench hereditary peers’ by-election

Two vacancies were created following the retirements of Lord Chorley and Lady Saltoun of Abernethy, both Crossbench hereditary peers, on 17 November 2014 and 12 December 2014 respectively.
A by-election was held on 2 February 2015 to fill the vacancies. Lord Thurlow and the Earl of Kinnoull were elected.

Crossbench hereditary peers’ by-election

A vacancy was created following the death of Viscount Allenby of Megiddo, a Crossbench hereditary peer, on 3 October 2014. A further vacancy was created following the retirement of Lord Cobbold, also a Crossbench hereditary peer, on 13 October 2014.
A by-election was held on 10 December 2014 to fill the vacancies. Lord Russell of Liverpool and the Duke of Somerset were elected.

Hereditary peers’ by-election

A vacancy was created following the death of Lord Methuen, one of the 15 hereditary peers elected by the whole House in 1999, on 9 July 2014.
A by-election was held on 21 October 2014 to fill the vacant seat. The Earl of Oxford and Asquith was elected.

Crossbench hereditary peers’ by-election

A vacancy was created following the death of Lord Moran, a Crossbench hereditary peer, on 14 February 2014.
A by-election was held on 9 April 2014 to fill the vacant seat. Lord Cromwell was elected.

Hereditary peers’ by-election

A vacancy was created following the death of Lord Reay, one of the 15 hereditary peers elected by the whole House in 1999, on 10 May 2013.
A by-election was held on 16 July 2013 to fill the vacant seat. Lord Borwick was elected.

Conservative hereditary peers’ by-election

A vacancy was created following the death of Earl Ferrers, a Conservative hereditary peer, on 13 November 2012.
A by-election was held on 6 February 2013 to fill the vacant seat. Viscount Ridley was elected.

Notices relating to 2012 by-elections and earlier are also available to read.

 

By-elections: background

Under the House of Lords Act 1999, the House of Lords elected 90 hereditary peers to sit in the reformed House. When one of these hereditary peers dies, a by-election is held.
All those on the Register of hereditary peers are eligible to stand in by-elections. The by-election must take place within three months of any vacancy occurring.
The system of by-elections came into effect in November 2002.

Further information

Notices relating to previous by-elections are also available to read.

Further information

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