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Life Peerages Act 1958

 

 
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Life Peerages Act 1958
 
 
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The Life Peerages Act 1958 (6 & 7 Eliz II c. 21) established the modern standards for the creation of life peer
Life peer

In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles may not be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as age and citizenship....
s by the monarch
British monarchy

The Monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its British overseas territory.The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, has reigned since 6 February 1952....
 of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
. Life peers are barons and are members of the House of Lords
House of Lords

The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". The Parliament comprises the British monarchy, the British House of Commons , and the Lords....
 for life, but their titles and membership in the Lords are not inherited by their children. Judicial life peers already sat in the House under the terms of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876
Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876

The Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that created the judicial functions of the House of Lords in its modern form....
. The Life Peerages Act vastly increased the ability of the Prime Minister to change the composition of the House of Lords and considerably lessened the dominance of hereditary "part-time" peers.

The Act allowed for the creation of female peers; the first such women peers sat in the House of Lords
House of Lords

The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". The Parliament comprises the British monarchy, the British House of Commons , and the Lords....
 from 21 October 1958.

Before the Act was passed, former Prime Ministers were created earls (which are hereditary peerages) in gratitude for their public service in high office.






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The Life Peerages Act 1958 (6 & 7 Eliz II c. 21) established the modern standards for the creation of life peer
Life peer

In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles may not be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as age and citizenship....
s by the monarch
British monarchy

The Monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its British overseas territory.The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, has reigned since 6 February 1952....
 of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
. Life peers are barons and are members of the House of Lords
House of Lords

The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". The Parliament comprises the British monarchy, the British House of Commons , and the Lords....
 for life, but their titles and membership in the Lords are not inherited by their children. Judicial life peers already sat in the House under the terms of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876
Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876

The Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that created the judicial functions of the House of Lords in its modern form....
. The Life Peerages Act vastly increased the ability of the Prime Minister to change the composition of the House of Lords and considerably lessened the dominance of hereditary "part-time" peers.

The Act allowed for the creation of female peers; the first such women peers sat in the House of Lords
House of Lords

The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". The Parliament comprises the British monarchy, the British House of Commons , and the Lords....
 from 21 October 1958.

Before the Act was passed, former Prime Ministers were created earls (which are hereditary peerages) in gratitude for their public service in high office. Since the Act was passed, no Prime Minister has been created an hereditary peer and they are now usually, though not always, created a life peer. A life peer is created by the Queen by Letters Patent under the Great Seal on the advice of the Prime Minister. Because the Prime Minister decides who is to be a life peer, there appears to no longer be any circumstances under which a Prime Minister can seek guarantees from the Sovereign to create hereditary peerages to flood the House of Lords to secure the passage of important Government legislation (such as happened during the crisis over the Parliament Act 1911).

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