Tag Archives: parliamentary elections

Why peers cannot vote for MPs

Lord Norton 24/02/2009 – 9:34 pm

Peers can vote in local and European Parliament elections, but cannot vote in elections to the House of Commons.  Some members of the House object to this and believe they should be entitled to vote.  The issue came up again at Question Time yesterday.   The minister, Lord Bach, was asked what the rationale was for peers not being permitted to vote for members of the Commons.  The minister e […]

Can peers vote?

Lord Norton 07/05/2008 – 1:20 pm

Baroness Murphy's post reminds me of a question frequently raised in discussions about the Lords.  Can peers vote in parliamentary elections?  The answer is no.  Or rather, members of the House of Lords cannot vote in parliamentary elections.  Prior to 1999 it was held in common law that it was the status of being a peer that precluded one being able to vote.  Since 1999 (and the House of Lo […]