By-elections to the House of Lords

Following the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, the number of hereditary peers entitled to sit in the House of Lords was reduced to ninety-two. The first ninety-two were elected by all the hereditary peers before the passing of the reform. Since November 2002, by-elections have been held to fill vacancies left by deaths of those peers. Before the passing of the Act, the Lords approved a Standing Order stating that the remaining hereditary peers shall consist of:[1]

Elections must be held within three months of the death of a sitting hereditary peer[2] and take place under the Alternative Vote system.[3] All those on the Register of Hereditary Peers are eligible to stand, but only sitting (the "excepted") hereditary peers may vote (which can result in very small electorates, such as three voters in the 2003 election of Lord Grantchester).[4][5]

Current Composition

As of 1 November 2012, the current party affiliation of the hereditary peers is:[6]

AffiliationElected by
Conservative
hereditary peers
Elected by
Crossbench
hereditary peers
Elected by
Labour
hereditary peers
Elected by
Liberal Democrat
hereditary peers
Elected by
whole House
Total
  Conservative 40[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] - - - 9 49
  Crossbenchers 1[lower-alpha 1] 27[lower-alpha 3] - - 3[lower-alpha 4] 31
  Labour - - 2 - 2 4
  Liberal Democrats - - - 3 1[lower-alpha 4] 4
  UKIP 1[lower-alpha 2] - - - - 1
Total 42 27 2 3 15 89

  1. 1.0 1.1 Earl Peel was elected by Conservative hereditary peers but sits as a Crossbencher.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lord Willoughby de Broke was elected by Conservative hereditary peers but now sits as a UKIP peer.
  3. Lord Bridges, who was elected by Crossbench hereditary peers, is currently on leave of absence.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Viscount Falkland was elected by the whole House as a Liberal Democrat but now sits as a Crossbencher.

By-election results

2003

After the death of the Viscount of Oxfuird:

Hereditary Peers' By-Election (Whole House eligible to vote), March 2003[7]
Party Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9Count 10Count 11Count 12Count 13Count 14Count 15Count 16Count 17Count 18
Conservative Green tickViscount Ullswater[8] 86 89 89 91 91 94 95 101 103 109 111 114 116 123 123 127 144 151
Crossbencher Viscount Montgomery of Alamein 46 46 46 46 48 49 49 53 54 56 56 61 63 66 68 80 95 116
Labour Lord Granchester 57 58 59 59 59 59 59 59 60 60 61 62 64 65 83 92 93 -
Conservative Viscount Eccles 31 32 33 34 35 37 37 41 43 44 46 47 48 53 53 55 - -
Crossbencher Lord Meston 39 40 40 42 42 44 44 44 45 45 45 45 48 48 48 - - -
Labour Lord Monkswell 26 26 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 29 29 31 31 - - - -
Crossbencher Earl of Clancarty 10 12 12 12 12 13 14 16 17 17 17 - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Rathcavan 13 13 13 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 14 - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Trenchard 10 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 13 13 - - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Weir 10 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 13 13 - - - - - - - -
Conservative Earl Cathcart 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Norrie 8 8 8 10 10 11 11 11 - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Brentford 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Earl of Cranbrook 5 7 7 8 8 9 9 - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Earl of Stockton 6 6 7 8 9 9 9 - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Earl of Effingham 6 6 6 6 6 6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Earl of Iveagh 5 5 5 5 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord de Ramsey 4 4 5 5 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Earl Cairns 4 4 4 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Addison 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Birdwood 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Liberal Democrat Earl of Glasgow 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Vaux of Harrowden 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Earl of Kinnoull 2 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord de Mauley 2 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Gray 2 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Hood 2 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Independent Lord Kennet 2 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Torrington 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Teynham 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Earl of Swinton 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Strathcarron 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Rowallan 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Poole 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Pender 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Napier of Magdala 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Morris 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Lawrence 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Earl of Kintore 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Gladwyn 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Earl of Cromer 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Birkett 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Independent Lord Ashbourne 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Others 37 Others 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Electorate: 661   Valid: 423   Spoilt: 3   Quota:   Turnout: 426

After the death of Lord Milner of Leeds:

Labour Hereditary Peers' By-Election, October 2003[9]
Candidate Count 1
Green tickLord Grantchester[8] 2
Viscount Hanworth 1
9 Others 0
Electorate: 3   Valid: 3   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 3

2004

After the death of Lord Vivian:

Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, May 2004[10]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9Count 10Count 11
Green tickViscount Trenchard 8 8 8 8 9 10 12 12 14 17 24
Viscount Eccles 7 7 8 9 9 9 9 10 13 15 18
Earl Cathcart 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 10 11 13 -
Viscount Weir 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 - -
Viscount Torrington 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 - - -
Lord de Mauley 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 - - - -
Lord Rathcavan 2 2 2 2 2 2 - - - - -
Lord Terrington 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - -
Lord Norrie 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - -
Lord Harlech 1 1 1 - - - - - - - -
Viscount Brentford 1 1 - - - - - - - - -
Viscount Addison 1 - - - - - - - - - -
25 Others 0 - - - - - - - - - -
Electorate: 48   Valid: 45   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 45

2005

After the death of the Earl Russell:

Liberal Democrat Hereditary Peers' By-Election, January 2005[11]
Candidate Count 1
Green tickEarl of Glasgow 4
Earl of Carlisle 0
Lord Kennet 0
Electorate: 4   Valid: 4   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 4

After the death of Lord Burnham:

Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, March 2005[12]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9Count 10
Green tickLord de Mauley 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 13 16 21
Earl Cathcart 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 10 11 13
Viscount Eccles 6 6 6 7 8 8 8 9 10 -
Viscount Torrington 2 3 4 4 4 5 7 7 - -
Earl of Stockton 4 4 4 4 5 6 7 - - -
Viscount Weir 4 4 4 4 4 4 - - - -
Lord Rathcavan 2 2 2 2 2 - - - - -
Lord de Ramsey 2 2 2 2 - - - - - -
Lord Norrie 1 1 1 - - - - - - -
Lord Margadale 1 1 - - - - - - - -
Viscount Addison 1 - - - - - - - - -
25 Others 0 - - - - - - - - -
Electorate: 47   Valid: 42   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 42

After the death of Lord Aberdare:

Hereditary Peers' By-Election (Whole House eligible to vote), March 2005[13]
Party Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9Count 10Count 11Count 12Count 13Count 14Count 15Count 16Count 17Count 18Count 19Count 20Count 21Count 22Count 23Count 24
Conservative Green tickViscount Eccles 92 92 92 92 93 93 93 93 93 93 93 93 94 94 96 96 98 102 104 111 119 129 146 168
Labour Lord Monkswell 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 65 65 67
Liberal Democrat Earl of Carlisle 49 49 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 51 51 51 51 51 53 54 54 55 59 61
Conservative Earl Cathcart 32 32 32 32 32 32 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 34 35 36 36 38 40 41 44 -
Conservative Earl of Stockton 22 22 22 22 22 23 23 23 24 24 24 25 25 25 25 26 27 27 31 34 35 39 - -
Conservative Lord Norrie 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 21 22 22 22 22 22 22 25 27 27 28 31 - - -
Conservative Viscount Torrington 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 13 14 14 14 14 14 14 - - - -
Conservative Lord de Ramsey 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 13 14 - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Birkett 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 12 - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Rathcavan 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Weir 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Poole 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Hood 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Margadale 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Terrington 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Tryon 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
UKIP Duke of Rutland 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Addison 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Vivian 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Rowallan 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Massereene and Ferrard 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Earl of Kinnoull 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Killearn 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Glanusk 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Clifford of Chudleigh 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Earl Alexander of Tunis 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Others 10 Others 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Electorate: 687   Valid: 348   Spoilt: 4   Quota:   Turnout: 352

After the death of Baroness Strange:

Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, June 2005[14]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6
Green tickViscount Montgomery of Alamein 11 11 11 11 11 11
Earl of Effingham 4 4 5 6 7 8
Earl of Clancarty 5 5 5 5 6 -
Earl of Stair 3 3 4 4 - -
Lord Gladwyn 2 3 3 - - -
Earl of Iveagh 2 2 - - - -
Lord Milford 1 - - - - -
19 Others 0 - - - - -
Electorate: 29   Valid: 28   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 28

2007

After the death of Lord Mowbray and Stourton:

Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, March 2007[15]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7
Green tickEarl Cathcart 10 11 11 12 12 16 21
Viscount Younger of Leckie 12 13 13 14 15 16 17
Earl of Stockton 6 6 6 7 9 11 -
Viscount Torrington 2 4 6 6 7 - -
Lord Rathcavan 4 4 4 4 - - -
Lord de Ramsey 3 3 3 - - - -
Viscount Weir 1 2 - - - - -
Earl Alexander of Tunis 1 - - - - - -
Lord Birdwood 1 - - - - - -
Lord Chesham 1 - - - - - -
Earl of Iveagh 1 - - - - - -
Lord Margadale 1 - - - - - -
30 Others 0 - - - - - -
Electorate: 47   Valid: 43   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 43

2008

After the death of the Baroness Darcy de Knayth:

Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, May 2008[16]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6
Green tickEarl of Stair 6 6 7 9 11 14
Earl of Clancarty 7 8 8 9 9 10
Lord Aberdare 4 4 4 4 5 -
Viscount Devonport 3 3 3 3 - -
Lord Cromwell 2 3 3 - - -
Lord Darcy de Knayth 2 2 - - - -
Lord Milford 1 - - - - -
Lord Terrington 1 - - - - -
25 Others 0 - - - - -
Electorate: 29   Valid: 26   Spoilt: 0   Quota: 14   Turnout: 26

2009

After the death of the Viscount Bledisloe:

Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, July 2009[17]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5
Green tickLord Aberdare 10 12 12 12 13
Lord Sempill 2 3 5 5 5
Viscount Hood 4 4 4 4 4
Earl of Clancarty 3 3 3 4 -
Lord Hacking 2 3 3 - -
Duke of Somerset 2 2 - - -
Lord Cromwell 1 - - - -
Earl of Effingham 1 - - - -
Lord Polwarth 1 - - - -
Lord Wrenbury 1 - - - -
23 Others 0 - - - -
Electorate: 29   Valid: 27   Spoilt: 0   Quota: 13   Turnout: 27

2010

After the death of the Viscount Colville of Culross:

Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, June 2010[18]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5
Green tickEarl of Clancarty 10 10 11 12 13
Earl of Lytton 3 5 5 8 8
Viscount Hood 3 4 5 5 -
Lord Sempill 4 4 4 - -
Viscount Runciman of Doxford 2 3 - - -
Earl of Albemarle 1 - - - -
Earl Cairns 1 - - - -
Lord Cromwell 1 - - - -
Lord Hacking 1 - - - -
15 Others 0 - - - -
Electorate: 29   Valid: 26   Spoilt: 0   Quota: 13   Turnout: 26

After the death of the Earl of Northesk:

Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, June 2010[19]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3
Green tickViscount Younger of Leckie 17 21 22
Earl of Stockton 5 7 7
Lord Ashton of Hyde 4 4 5
Lord Rathcavan 3 3 4
Lord Colgrain 2 3 3
Lord de Ramsey 2 3 3
Marquess of Abergavenny 2 2 -
Earl of Limerick 2 2 -
Viscount Addison 1 - -
Lord Bethell 1 - -
Lord Birdwood 1 - -
Lord Bolton 1 - -
Viscount Gormanston 1 - -
Lord Gray 1 - -
Lord Harlech 1 - -
Lord Margadale 1 - -
17 Others 0 - -
Electorate: 47   Valid: 45   Spoilt: 0   Quota: 22   Turnout: 45

2011

After the death of the Lord Strabolgi:

Hereditary Peers' By-Election (Whole House eligible to vote), March 2011[20]
Party Candidate Count 1
Labour Green tickViscount Hanworth 233
Liberal Democrat Earl of Carlisle 26
Conservative Lord de Ramsey 24
Crossbencher Lord Hacking 24
Labour Lord Monkswell 21
Conservative Earl of Stockton 20
Conservative Earl of Harrowby 17
Crossbencher Lord Cromwell 8
Conservative Lord Killearn 6
Conservative Earl Alexander of Tunis 5
Conservative Lord Margadale 5
Conservative Earl of Kinnoull 4
Liberal Democrat Lord Ogmore 4
Conservative Lord Rowallan 3
Conservative Viscount Addison 2
Crossbencher Lord Tryon 2
Conservative Lord Birdwood 1
Crossbencher Earl of Cromer 1
Conservative Lord Sudeley 1
Conservative Lord Gainford 0
Crossbencher Viscount Hill 0
Crossbencher Lord Parmoor 0
Conservative Lord Vivian 0
Electorate: 769   Valid: 414   Spoilt: 2   Quota: 207   Turnout: 416

After the death of the Lord Monson:

Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, May 2011[21]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5
Green tickEarl of Lytton 7 7 9 11 15
Duke of Somerset 6 7 9 9 9
Viscount Colville of Culross 6 6 6 7 -
Lord Cromwell 3 3 3 - -
Earl of Oxford and Asquith 2 2 - - -
Earl of Shaftesbury 2 2 - - -
Earl of Drogheda 1 - - - -
7 Others 0 - - - -
Electorate: 28   Valid: 27   Spoilt: 0   Quota: 14   Turnout: 27

After the death of the Earl of Onslow:

Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, July 2011[22]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9
Green tickLord Ashton of Hyde 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 21 23
Lord Borwick 5 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7
Lord de Ramsey 3 3 3 3 4 3 5 5 5
Earl of Harrowby 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Earl of Stockton 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4
Marquess of Abergavenny 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 -
Earl of Oxford and Asquith 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 - -
Earl of Onslow 2 2 2 2 2 2 - - -
Lord Rowallan 1 1 1 1 1 - - - -
Lord Rathcavan 1 1 1 1 - - - - -
Lord Margadale 1 1 1 - - - - - -
Earl of Limerick 1 1 - - - - - - -
Viscount Addison 1 - - - - - - - -
8 Others 0 - - - - - - - -
Electorate: 47   Valid: 45   Spoilt: 0   Quota: 23   Turnout: 45

After the death of the Lord Ampthill:

Hereditary Peers' By-Election (Whole House eligible to vote), July 2011[23]
Party Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9Count 10Count 11Count 12Count 13Count 14Count 15
Crossbencher Green tickViscount Colville of Culross 77 77 78 78 78 78 79 79 80 80 81 88 94 101 126
Crossbencher Duke of Somerset 76 76 76 76 76 78 78 78 79 80 81 86 91 98 104
Crossbencher Lord Hacking 52 52 52 52 52 54 54 56 56 57 59 60 66 73 -
Conservative Earl of Stockton 28 28 29 29 29 29 29 29 30 33 33 33 38 - -
Liberal Democrat Lord Kennet 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 18 18 19 26 26 - - -
Crossbencher Earl of Shaftesbury 12 13 13 13 13 14 16 16 16 17 18 - - - -
Liberal Democrat Earl of Carlisle 12 12 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 - - - - -
Conservative Earl of Limerick 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 9 12 - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Margadale 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 - - - - - - -
Conservative Earl of Kinnoull 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 - - - - - - - -
Conservative Viscount Hood 5 5 5 6 6 6 - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Cromwell 4 4 4 4 5 - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Killearn 3 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Cadman 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Earl of Albemarle 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Biddulph 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Tryon 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Vivian 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Others 2 Others 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Electorate: 769   Valid: 313   Spoilt: 3   Quota: 157   Turnout: 316

2013

After the death of the Earl Ferrers:

Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, February 2013[24]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9Count 10Count 11Count 12Count 13Count 14
Green tickViscount Ridley 14 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 18 18 20 21 24
Viscount Hailsham 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11
Earl of Harrowby 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 8
Lord de Ramsey 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 5 6 -
Marquess of Abergavenny 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 - -
Earl of Stockton 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 - - -
Lord Borwick 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 - - - -
Earl of Oxford and Asquith 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 - - - - -
Lord Windlesham 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - -
Lord Vivian 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - -
Lord Swansea 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - -
Lord Monson 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - -
Lord Margadale 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - -
Lord Darling 1 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - -
Earl of Clanwilliam 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lord Ampthill 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
11 Others 0 - -
Electorate: 48   Valid: 46   Spoilt: 0   Quota: 23   Turnout: 46

After the death of the Lord Reay:

Hereditary Peers' By-Election (Whole House eligible to vote), July 2013[25]
Party Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8Count 9Count 10Count 11Count 12Count 13Count 14Count 15Count 16Count 17
Conservative Green tickLord Borwick 104 105 105 106 106 107 109 109 109 110 112 113 114 117 120 135 160
Conservative Viscount Hailsham 104 104 105 105 106 106 106 106 106 106 107 107 108 112 113 117 129
Conservative Earl of Stockton 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 36 38 39 41 42 44 56 61 -
Conservative Earl of Harrowby 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 24 24 26 26 27 29 31 - -
Liberal Democrat Lord Kennet 17 17 17 17 17 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 - - -
Conservative Lord Swansea 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 11 13 - - - -
Conservative Lord Ampthill 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 9 10 10 10 10 - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Napier and Ettrick 6 6 6 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Margadale 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Windlesham 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Rowallan 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Earl of Onslow 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - -
UKIP Viscount Massereene and Ferrard 3 3 3 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - -
Liberal Democrat Earl of Carlisle 3 3 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Earl of Albemarle 3 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crossbencher Lord Hemphill 2 2 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Biddulph 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Cadman 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Conservative Lord Harlech 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Others 4 Others 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Electorate: 753   Valid: 334   Spoilt: 2   Quota: 167   Turnout: 336

2014

After the death of the Lord Moran:

Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, April 2014[26]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5
Green tickLord Cromwell 9 10 10 12 13
Lord Russell of Liverpool 7 7 7 9 12
Lord Sempill 4 4 5 5 -
Lord Aldington 4 4 5 - -
Lord Thurlow 2 2 - - -
Lord Napier and Ettrick 1 - - - -
7 Others 0 - - - -
Electorate: 29   Valid: 27   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 27

After the death of the Lord Methuen:

Hereditary Peers' By-Election (Whole House eligible to vote), October 2014[27]
Party Candidate Count 1
Liberal Democrat Green tickEarl of Oxford and Asquith 155
Crossbencher Lord Napier and Ettrick 35
Conservative Earl of Stockton 31
Liberal Democrat Lord Kennet 29
Conservative Lord Margadale 13
Crossbencher Viscount Massereene and Ferrard 6
Crossbencher Lord Somerleyton 6
Conservative Lord Harlech 4
Crossbencher Lord Calverley 1
Conservative Lord Layton 1
Conservative Lord Middleton 1
Conservative Lord Sudeley 1
Conservative Lord Biddulph 0
Conservative Lord Cadman 0
Conservative Lord Rowallan 0
Electorate: 776   Valid: 283   Spoilt: 0   Quota: 142   Turnout: 283

After the death of the Viscount Allenby of Megiddo:

Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, December 2014[28]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5
Green tickLord Russell of Liverpool 7 8 10 10 13
Duke of Somerset 4 4 4 5 5
Lord Thurlow 4 4 4 5 5
Lord Napier and Ettrick 3 3 3 4 -
Earl of Kinnoull 3 3 3 - -
Viscount Hood 3 3 - - -
Earl of Clanwilliam 1 - - - -
11 Others 0 - - - -
Electorate: 27   Valid: 25   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 25

After the retirement of the Lord Cobbold:

Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, December 2014[28]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5
Green tickDuke of Somerset 6 7 8 8 12
Lord Thurlow 8 8 9 10 11
Earl of Kinnoull 4 4 4 5 -
Lord Napier and Ettrick 3 3 3 - -
Viscount Hood 3 3 - - -
Earl of Clanwilliam 1 - - - -
11 Others 0 - - - -
Electorate: 27   Valid: 25   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 25

2015

After the retirement of the Lord Chorley:

Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, February 2015[29]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6
Green tickLord Thurlow 8 9 9 9 10 13
Viscount Hood 4 4 4 4 4 4
Lord Napier and Ettrick 3 3 3 3 3 3
Earl of Cork and Orrery 2 2 3 3 3 3
Lord Sempill 2 2 2 3 3 3
Lord Aldington 2 2 2 2 3 -
Earl of Kinnoull 2 2 2 2 - -
Lord Hemphill 1 1 1 - - -
Earl of Clanwilliam 1 1 - - - -
Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor 1 - - - - -
8 Others 0 - - - - -
Electorate: 28   Valid: 26   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 26

After the retirement of the Lady Saltoun of Abernethy:

Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, February 2015[30]
Candidate Count 1 Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6
Green tickEarl of Kinnoull 9 9 10 10 11 12
Viscount Hood 4 4 4 4 4 5
Lord Sempill 2 3 3 3 4 4
Lord Napier and Ettrick 3 3 3 3 3 3
Earl of Cork and Orrery 2 2 2 3 3 -
Lord Aldington 2 2 2 2 - -
Earl of Clanwilliam 1 1 1 - - -
Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor 1 1 - - - -
Lord Hemphill 1 - - - - -
8 Others 0 - - - - -
Electorate: 28   Valid: 26   Spoilt: 0   Quota:   Turnout: 26

Forthcoming by-elections

As of 3 February 2015, there are no forthcoming by-elections.

Historical by-elections

From the 1801 Act of Union to Irish independence, 28 representative peers were elected from and by the Peerage of Ireland to sit in the British House of Lords.[31] Like current hereditary peers, these representative peers sat for life terms and deceased peers were replaced in by-elections. Unlike modern hereditary peer by-elections, all peers in the Peerage of Ireland, even those who did not sit in the House of Lords, were entitled to vote. Upon the creation of the Irish Free State, the officers required to officiate these by-elections were abolished and thus no more were held, but those peers already elected kept their seats for the remainder of their lives.

For a list of Irish Peer by-election results, see List of Irish representative peers.

Also, from the 1707 Act of Union to the passing of the Peerage Act 1963, peers in the Peerage of Scotland elected sixteen representative peers to sit in the House of Lords. Unlike Irish peers, however, Scottish representative peers only sat for the duration of one parliament before facing re-election. By-elections were held in the Palace of Holyroodhouse to replace deceased peers. After the passing of the Peerage Act 1963, all Scottish peers were entitled to sit in the House of Lords and the election procedure was abolished.

References

  1. "Hansard, Vol 604 No 126 Cols 1290-1292". 1999-07-26. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  2. "By-Elections in the House of Lords". Retrieved 15 November 2012. The by-election must take place within three months of any vacancy occurring.
  3. http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-information-office/holnotice20100601.pdf
  4. http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2009/07/by-election-in-the-house-of-lords/
  5. http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld201011/ldelect/2/2.pdf
  6. "Lords by party and gender". UK Parliament. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  7. "United Kingdom Election Results - House of Lords Act: Hereditary Peers By-Election, March 2003". Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  8. 8.0 8.1 http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/lords/house-of-lords-information-office/hoflpressnotice301003/
  9. "United Kingdom Election Results - House of Lords Act: Hereditary Peers Elections (scroll down page to section headed 'Labour')". Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  10. "Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, May 2004". Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  11. "Liberal Democrat Hereditary Peers' By-Election, January 2005". Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  12. "Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, March 2005". Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  13. "Hereditary Peers' By-Election, March 2005". Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  14. "Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, June 2005". Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  15. "Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, March 2007". Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  16. "Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, May 2008". Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  17. "Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, July 2009". Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  18. "Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, June 2010". Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  19. "Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, June 2010". Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  20. "Hereditary Peers' By-Election, March 2011". Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  21. "Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, May 2011". Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  22. "Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, July 2011". Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  23. "Whole House by-election July 2011". Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  24. "Conservative Hereditary Peers' By-Election, February 2013". Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  25. "Whole House by-election July 2013". Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  26. "Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, April 2014". Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  27. "Hereditary Peers' By-Election, October 2014".
  28. 28.0 28.1 "Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, December 2014". Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  29. "Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, February 2015". Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  30. "Crossbench Hereditary Peers' By-Election, February 2015". Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  31. "About". Act of Union. Queen's University Belfast. Retrieved October 13, 2012.