House of Lords Act: Hereditary Peers Elections

Under the provisions of the House of Lords Act 1999, there are to be 92 hereditary peers who will be Lords of Parliament in subsequent sessions. Two holders of special offices (each of which has a central part in the ceremony of the State Opening of Parliament) will remain, together with 15 peers elected by the whole House. These places are intended to be occupied by Deputy Speakers of the House of Lords and other office holders.

In addition 75 peers have been elected by their party groups - comprised of 42 for the Conservatives, 28 Cross-Benchers, 3 Liberal Democrats and 2 Labour (these proportions being pro rata to the strength of the parties among the hereditary peers so that all have equal chance). These places are to be elected by the hereditary peers taking each party whip.

Elections were organised for the two sections before the Royal Assent was given to the Act. The whole House elected the 15 office holders first, with polling spread over two days - 27th and 28th October 1999. The party elections were held on 3rd and 4th November. The electoral system in each section was derived from multi-member first past the post. Each voter had to mark as many preferences, in order, as there were places; any ties were resolved by examination of preferences. There was one case (among the Labour Peers) where the preferences for two candidates were the same and the candidates drew lots.

Where vacancies have arisen by the death of those elected, until November 2002 they have been filled by the candidates who polled the highest number of votes and were not elected. Since that time, by-elections have been held. For the 15 ‘office holders’, the electorate is the whole House. In the party groups the electorate consists of those hereditary peers among the 92 in the same party. The Clerk of the Parliaments holds a register of all those hereditary peers who wish to stand for election.

The government gave additional life peerages to holders of hereditary peerages of first creation. This affected the following:

Lord Aldington (C) [died 6th December 2000]
Lord Erroll of Hale (C) [died 17th September 2000]
Earl of Longford (1st Baron Pakenham) (Lab) [died 3rd August 2001]
Earl of Snowdon (XB)

Life peerages were also conferred on all living former Leaders of the House of Lords who were hereditary peers. This affects the following:

Lord Belstead (C) [died 3rd December 2005]
Lord Carrington (C)
Viscount Cranborne (Lord Cecil of Essendon) (C) [on Leave of Absence from the House since 1st November 2001; he succeeded to the Marquessate of Salisbury in 2003]
Earl Jellicoe (C) [died 22nd February 2007]
Lord Shepherd (Lab) [died 5th April 2001]
Lord Windlesham (C)

In addition, the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres holds a life peerage conferred before he inherited the hereditary title. Viscount Younger of Leckie (died 26th January 2003) also held a previous life peerage.

In a list of ‘Working Peers’ published in March 2000, several excluded hereditary peers had life peerages conferred upon them:

Lord Acton (Lab)
Lord Berkeley (Lab)
Viscount Chandos (Lab)
Lord Grenfell (Lab)
Earl of Mar and Kellie (L Dem)
Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Lab)
Lord Redesdale (L Dem)

The following offices will qualify their holders, ex officio, for membership of the House of Lords in the new session:

THE EARL MARSHAL - Duke of Norfolk (C) (The 17th Duke of Norfolk died on 24th June 2002 and was succeeded by his son; the 18th Duke sits as a Crossbencher)

THE LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN - Marquess of Cholmondeley (XB)

ELECTION OF 15 PEERS BY THE WHOLE HOUSE

Electorate: 1,115
Valid Votes: 631
Turnout: 56.6%

OrderCandidateVotes
Party
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33		Countess of Mar
Lord Strabolgi
Lord Elton
Lord Lyell
Lord Skelmersdale
Lord Aberdare*
Lord Brougham and Vaux
Viscount of Falkland
Lord Colwyn
Viscount of Oxfuird**
Lord Reay
Lord Geddes
Viscount Simon
Lord Methuen
Lord Ampthill

Viscount Allenby of Megiddo
Viscount St. Davids
Lord Bridges
Lord Lucas (of Crudwell) and Dingwall
Baroness Strange
Earl of Onslow
Viscount Davidson
Lord Swinfen
Lord Chesham
Lord Walpole
Earl of Dundee
Earl of Kinnoull
Earl of Shannon
Lord Belhaven and Stenton
Lord Morris
Lord Swansea
Earl of Kimberley
Lord Cadman		570
558
558
547
544
530
525
519
488
482
471
461
453
421
418

327
168
164
144
124
119
104
100
96
93
88
84
84
60
51
49
41
24
XB
Lab
C
C
C
C
C
L Dem
C
C
C
C
Lab
L Dem
XB

XB
C
XB
C
XB
C
C
C
C
XB
C
C
XB
C
C
XB
C
C

* Died 23rd January 2005. At a byelection on 22nd March 2005, Viscount Eccles (C) was elected to replace him. Details of the votes in this byelection are to be found here.

** Died 3rd January 2003. At a byelection on 25th and 26th March 2003, Viscount Ullswater (C) was elected to fill the vacant seat. Details of the votes in this byelection are to be found here.

Analysis of Preferences

Candidate123456789101112131415
Countess of Mar
Lord Strabolgi
Lord Elton
Lord Lyell
Lord Skelmersdale
Lord Aberdare
Lord Brougham and Vaux
Viscount of Falkland
Lord Colwyn
Viscount of Oxfuird
Lord Reay
Lord Geddes
Viscount Simon
Lord Methuen
Lord Ampthill
Viscount Allenby of Megiddo
Viscount St. Davids
Lord Bridges
Lord Lucas (of Crudwell) and Dingwall
Baroness Strange
Earl of Onslow
Viscount Davidson
Lord Swinfen
Lord Chesham
Lord Walpole
Earl of Dundee
Earl of Kinnoull
Earl of Shannon
Lord Belhaven and Stenton
Lord Morris
Lord Swansea
Earl of Kimberley
Lord Cadman		36
75
42
17
11
65
123
60
6
2
8
5
68
1
18
33
4
8
3
10
6
4
2
4
4
1
5
2
4
3
0
0
1		31
75
126
19
26
25
37
6
7
13
9
8
70
59
48
27
4
3
3
3
4
5
3
3
0
4
2
1
7
2
0
0
1		29
66
32
21
121
16
21
119
20
16
7
12
6
9
39
22
9
22
6
4
6
3
4
6
3
0
1
2
1
5
3
0
0		27
18
27
116
31
22
26
19
22
28
5
13
55
116
20
9
2
13
4
9
6
9
2
3
6
4
2
6
6
0
1
4
0		62
12
22
40
21
26
30
10
24
108
15
21
9
8
19
103
4
21
3
12
5
10
7
2
5
8
4
6
4
3
3
3
1		33
14
38
24
33
15
146
17
111
27
14
19
5
3
18
16
9
14
10
5
6
7
5
4
9
4
5
10
4
0
2
4
0		17
12
106
29
20
22
26
16
28
25
21
118
6
5
8
43
9
16
16
7
12
7
9
10
8
5
7
7
1
4
3
4
4		17
14
52
30
113
107
32
12
30
18
42
26
10
4
14
6
16
5
7
10
10
4
5
9
9
3
4
5
4
6
5
2
0		19
17
37
116
59
29
13
15
26
21
112
24
6
5
20
16
13
6
9
9
8
2
8
7
5
8
6
3
1
4
4
2
1		32
130
21
48
24
11
15
14
19
108
20
17
16
6
19
13
15
12
15
9
12
9
5
8
6
4
3
3
5
5
2
2
3		24
33
14
19
22
10
14
39
97
53
24
23
111
14
17
7
14
7
11
6
6
2
6
10
7
9
6
8
4
2
3
5
4		25
31
10
28
15
22
9
117
46
21
17
93
18
19
22
6
18
11
15
9
5
8
14
6
5
7
5
5
5
5
7
5
2		22
19
12
11
16
95
14
32
24
16
29
49
25
103
25
9
22
7
9
10
7
12
8
5
8
9
8
6
5
6
4
3
1		24
19
9
17
18
51
6
28
16
14
97
24
24
32
103
9
15
10
16
8
6
13
11
7
6
11
9
7
5
4
5
4
3		172
23
10
12
14
14
13
15
12
12
51
9
24
37
28
8
14
9
17
13
20
9
11
12
12
11
17
13
4
2
7
3
3

ELECTIONS FOR 75 PEERS BY PARTY GROUP

Conservative: 42 Seats

Electorate: 241
Valid Votes: 204
Turnout: 84.6%

OrderCandidateVotes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42

43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113		Earl Ferrers
Lord Strathclyde
Lord Trefgarne
Lord Denham
Lord Mancroft
Earl Howe
Lord Brabazon of Tara
Earl of Caithness
Lord Henley
Lord Glenarthur
Lord Astor of Hever
Viscount Astor
Earl of Courtown
Earl Peel
Lord Moynihan
Earl Attlee
Viscount Goschen
Duke of Montrose
Lord Burnham*
Lord Vivian**
Earl of Northesk
Earl of Selborne
Viscount Bridgeman
Lord Luke
Earl of Lindsay
Lord Lucas (of Crudwell) and Dingwall
Lord Montagu of Bealieu
Earl of Home
Lord Glentoran
Earl of Onslow
Lord Crathorne
Lord Willoughby de Broke
Lord Inglewood
Lord Northbrook
Lord Swinfen
Earl of Shrewsbury
Lord Selsdon
Earl of Liverpool
Earl of Arran
Earl of Dundee
Lord Mowbray and Stourton***
Lord Rotherwick

Viscount Trenchard
Lord Norrie
Viscount Weir
Lord Lucas of Chilworth
Viscount Addison
Viscount Torrington
Viscount Long
Earl of Kinnoull
Viscount Davidson
Lord De Ramsey
Lord Coleraine
Lord Chesham
Lord Rowallan
Lord Hindlip
Lord Beaverbrook
Lord Birdwood
Viscount St. Davids
Lord Renwick
Earl of Limerick
Lord Gray
Earl Cathcart
Earl of Clanwilliam
Earl Alexander of Tunis
Viscount Dilhorne
Lord Westbury
Lord Ironside
Lord Sempill
Lord Harlech
Lord Newall
Viscount Eccles
Earl of Lindsey and Abingdon
Lord Belhaven and Stenton
Viscount Brentford
Lord Annaly
Earl of Buckinghamshire
Lord Poole
Earl De La Warr
Lord Pender
Lord Strathcarron
Lord Ashbourne
Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax
Earl of Lauderdale
Lord Holmpatrick
Lord Denbigh
Viscount Massereene and Ferrard
Viscount Hood
Lord Sudeley
Lord Rennell
Earl of Haddington
Lord Teviot
Lord Wise
Earl of Kimberley
Lord Monk Bretton
Viscount Gage
Lord Cadman
Lord Morris
Lord Biddulph
Lord Harmsworth
Earl of Munster
Lord Mountevans
Lord Harding of Petherton
Lord Rodney
Lord Ellenborough
Lord Gainford
Lord Layton
Lord Leigh
Marquess of Ailsa
Lord Elibank
Lord Seaford
Earl of Granard
Lord Merrivale		190
174
173
169
168
165
165
161
160
157
151
146
143
142
137
135
132
127
127
126
126
125
125
124
116
115
113
113
104
99
97
96
95
95
95
95
94
93
90
90
88
88

87
87
86
82
80
80
80
74
73
71
70
67
65
62
62
61
60
60
60
59
59
58
58
57
57
56
52
52
51
50
48
45
45
45
45
45
43
42
41
41
41
40
39
39
38
38
37
35
35
33
33
32
31
31
30
28
27
27
26
25
23
21
20
19
14
13
12
12
11
10
8

* - Died 1st January 2005. At a byelection between 28th February and 9th March 2005, Lord de Mauley was elected to fill the vacant seat. Details of the votes in this byelection are to be found here.

** - Died 28th February 2004. At a byelection on 11th and 12th May 2004, Viscount Trenchard was elected to fill the vacant seat. Details of the votes in this byelection are to be found here.

*** - Died 12th December 2006. At a byelection on 5th and 6th March 2007, The Earl Cathcart was elected to fill the vacant seat. Details of the votes in this byelection are to be found here.

Cross-Benchers: 28 Seats

Electorate: 131
Valid Votes: 105
Turnout: 80.2%

OrderCandidateVotes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79		Baroness Darcy de Knayth*
Lord Freyberg
Lord St. John of Bletso
Lord Northbourne
Earl of Sandwich
Viscount Allenby of Megiddo
Viscount Tenby
Lord Palmer
Viscount Slim
Viscount Bledisloe
Lord Monson
Viscount Brookeborough
Lord Bridges
Lady Saltoun of Abernethy
Lord Hylton
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley
Earl of Carnarvon**
Earl of Listowel
Lord Moran
Baroness Strange***
Earl of Erroll
Lord Walpole
Viscount Craigavon
Baroness Wharton****
Viscount Colville of Culross
Viscount Waverley
Lord Greenway
Earl of Rosslyn

Lord Cobbold†
Lord Chorley††
Earl of Iveagh
Lord Ashburton
Lord Gladwyn
Earl of Shannon
Earl of Kintore
Earl of Effingham
Earl of Clancarty
Lady Kinloss
Lord Rathcavan
Viscount Runciman of Doxford
Lord Hankey
Lord Shaughnessy
Earl of Drogheda
Earl Cairns
Lord Meston
Lord Napier and Ettrick
Lord Napier of Magdãla
Lord Norton
Lord Carew
Earl of Stair
Lord Birkett
Lord Dulverton
Lord Lawrence
Viscount Rothermere
Viscount Mountgarret
Viscount Alanbrooke
Viscount Exmouth
Baroness Arlington
Earl of Huntingdon
Lord Hayter
Lord Tryon
Lord Dunleath
Lord Craigmyle
Earl of Cromer
Lord Swansea
Lord Nunburnholme
Lord Cromwell
Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
Lord Wrenbury
Viscount Leathers
Lord Amwell
Lord Broadbridge
Earl of Buchan
Lord Blyth
Marquess of Headfort
Lord Glanusk
Lord Lindsay of Birker
Viscount Dunrossil
Lord Catto		85
82
81
78
78
75
74
72
72
70
70
68
68
64
64
63
58
58
57
53
52
52
51
48
47
47
47
45

43
42
40
40
39
39
39
38
36
36
35
35
34
32
31
27
26
26
26
25
24
24
23
23
20
20
19
19
19
18
17
17
16
15
15
15
14
14
14
14
14
14
12
12
12
11
11
8
8
6
4

* Died 24th February 2008. A byelection to replace her is pending.
** Died 11th September 2001.
*** Died 10th March 2005. At a byelection between 13th June and 22nd June 2005, Viscount Montgomery of Alamein was elected to fill the vacant seat. Details of the votes in this byelection are to be found here.
**** Died 15th May 2000.
† Became eligible to sit from 25th May 2000.
†† Became eligible to sit from 15th October 2001.

Liberal Democrats: 3 Seats

Electorate: 20
Valid Votes: 20
Turnout: 100%

OrderCandidateVotes
1
2
3

4
5
6
7
8
9		Earl Russell*
Lord Avebury
Lord Addington

Earl of Mar and Kellie
Earl of Carlisle
Earl Grey
Lord Calverley
Earl of Glasgow
Lord McNair		17
13
10

7
4
3
3
2
1

* Died 14th October 2004. At a byelection on 10th-12th January 2005, the Earl of Glasgow (L Dem) was elected with 4 votes. The Earl of Carlisle (L Dem), and Lord Kennet (Lab) also declared themselves candidates but received no votes.

Labour: 2 Seats

Electorate: 18
Valid Votes: 17
Turnout: 94.4%

OrderCandidateVotes
1
2

3
4
5
6		Lord Milner of Leeds*
Lord Rea

Lord Grantchester
Lord Monkswell
Lord Kilbracken
Lord Kennet		8
7

7
6
3
3

Note: The tie between Lord Kilbracken and Lord Kennet was resolved by drawing lots as both candidates obtained the same preferences.

* Died 20th August 2003. At a byelection on 28th-30th October 2003, Lord Grantchester (Lab) was elected with 2 votes to 1 for Viscount Hanworth (Lab). Lord Biddulph (C), the Earl of Carlisle (L Dem), Lord Clifford of Chudleigh (XB), Lord Hacking (Lab), Lord HolmPatrick (Ind), the Earl of Kimberley (Ind), Lord Monkswell (Lab), Viscount Samuel (Ind) and Lord Vaux of Harrowden (C) also declared themselves candidates but received no votes.


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