UK Labour Party Pushes to Convert House of Lords Honorary Positions to Elected Posts

Keir Starmer, Leader of the UK Labour Party
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] Major foreign media reported on the 20th (local time) that the UK opposition Labour Party is pushing a bill to convert the honorary position of House of Lords members into elected positions as a pledge for the next general election. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer argued that the House of Lords should be changed to elected positions to restore public trust in politics.

The UK House of Lords consists of hereditary peers, appointed archbishops, and others. They are appointed by the British monarch on the recommendation of the Prime Minister without democratic procedures such as voting. Despite being honorary positions, the House of Lords reviews laws passed by the House of Commons and can recommend amendments. Although it cannot reject bills, it can delay them for up to one year. Thus, even though they are not elected, they can exert considerable influence in the legislative process.

Since appointments are made on the Prime Minister's recommendation, there have been ongoing controversies regarding qualifications.

Former Prime Minister Johnson was embroiled in controversy for recommending his brother, Jo Johnson, as a member of the House of Lords, despite his close friend and owner of the evening newspaper 'London Evening Standard,' Evgeny Lebedev, having served as a member of parliament and deputy minister of industry.

Leader Starmer pointed out that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson abused the system by recommending people loyal to him as members of the House of Lords.

Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth also argued on the same day that political trust has declined because of former Prime Minister Johnson and that it is time to democratize the House of Lords.

Abolishing the honorary positions in the House of Lords was one of the ten pledges Starmer made when he ran for Labour Party leader in 2020. Leader Starmer stated that by making the House of Lords elected, regional representation would also be strengthened.

The Labour Party plans to promote a bill to revise the House of Lords into elected positions as a pledge in the next general election. Currently, the UK Parliament, first convened on December 17, 2019, will be automatically dissolved on December 17, 2024, after five years, and the next UK general election is scheduled to be held no later than January 24, 2025.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.