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

House of Common
Current State of the Parties
Nearly all MPs are members of political parties. The list below details the current composition of
the House of Commons, based on the number of MPs in each party. If an MP is not a member of
a political party, they are known as an 'Independent'.
This list was last updated on 8 March 2013 by the House of Commons Information Office. We
aim to update this within one working day of changes being announced.
Party

Sea
ts

Conservative

304

Labour

257

Liberal Democrat

57

Democratic Unionist

Scottish National

Sinn Fein

Independent

Plaid Cymru

Social Democratic & Labour

Party

Alliance

Green

Respect

Speaker

Total number of seats

650

Current working Government

Majority

79

*Speaker: John Bercow. Deputy Speakers: Mr Lindsay Hoyle, Mr Nigel Evans and Dawn
Primarolo
**303 Conservative and 57 Liberal Democrat MPs less 281 of all other parties - excludes
Speaker, Deputy Speakers and Sinn Fein.
Seat won at the 2010 General Election
Party

Sea
ts

Conservative

306

Labour

258

Liberal Democrat

57

Democratic Unionist

Scottish National

Sinn Fein

Plaid Cymru

Social Democratic &

Labour Party

Alliance

Green

Independent

Speaker

Total number of seats

650