The Lord Speaker is elected by Members of the House of Lords every five years. This House of Lords Library briefing provides an overview of the process for electing a Lord Speaker. It includes information on standing for election, voting and the triggers for an election. The primary role of the Lord Speaker is to preside over proceedings in the Chamber, including committees of the whole House. Details about the office of the Lord Speaker itself, as well as background to how the office came into being, are available in Lords Library briefing Principal Office Holders in the House of Lords (19 March 2015).
Lord Speaker: Election 2016 (118 KB , PDF)
The last Lord Speaker election took place on 13 July 2011. On 18 July 2011, the Clerk of the Parliaments announced that Baroness D’Souza had been elected. Lady D’Souza took her office as Lord Speaker on 1 September 2011. A Lord Speaker may serve for a maximum of two terms. On 11 February 2016, Lady D’Souza announced that she would not put her name forward as a candidate in the 2016 speakership election. She will step down from office on completing her first five year term, on 1 September 2016.
According to the Standing Orders, in the year that an election of the Lord Speaker is due to take place, the election must be held before 15 July. This is to allow enough time for the election to be conducted and the result to be announced before the House rises for the summer recess. Specific arrangements for the 2016 election process will be set out in a notice for Members issued by the Clerk of the Parliaments in due course.
To date, there have been two speakership elections. The first election was held on 28 June 2006 following a resolution of the House on 12 July 2005 that it should elect its own presiding officer. The 2006 election resulted in Baroness Hayman becoming the first Lord Speaker, as announced on 4 July 2006. On 9 May 2011, Baroness Hayman announced her intention not to seek re-election. The second election resulted in Baroness D’Souza being elected as Lord Speaker.
Lord Speaker: Election 2016 (118 KB , PDF)
Under the provisions of the House of Lords Act 1999, 92 ‘excepted’ hereditary peers can sit in the House of Lords. The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill would remove this exemption and also abolish the jurisdiction of the House of Lords in hereditary peerage claims.
The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) vets nominations to the House and recommends non-party political members. While its advice is usually followed, it is not a statutory body and the prime minister can choose to disregard its advice. This briefing provides an overview of the role and powers of the commission and summarises recent debates concerning its reform.
Ministers are needed in the House of Lords to take legislation through the House and answer for the government during questions and debates. Some cabinet ministers are appointed from the Lords. For example, the leader of the House of Lords is always a member of the Lords. This briefing looks at the role of ministers in the House of Lords and how they are scrutinised.
