UK House of Lords Reform: Earls, Elections & a Pink-Haired Baroness

POWDERHAM CASTLE, Devon, England – The United Kingdom’s House of Lords underwent a historic shift on March 21, 2026, as the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act came into effect, effectively ending the automatic right of hereditary peers to a seat in Parliament. Among those affected is Charles Courtenay, the 19th Earl of Devon, who resides at the 12th-century Powderham Castle, a family estate dating back to 1325.

The recent law, passed this month, eliminates the 92 remaining inherited seats in the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the UK Parliament. While some hereditary peers will be allowed to remain until their deaths, they will not be able to pass their titles – and their parliamentary positions – to their descendants. The move represents the culmination of decades-long efforts to modernize the House of Lords and address concerns about the legitimacy of inherited political power.

Courtenay, 50, inherited his earldom and seat in the House of Lords in 2015 upon the death of his father. He had previously lived and practiced law in California, becoming a member of the California State Bar in 2004, after studying at St John’s College, Cambridge and the Inns of Court School of Law. He was elected to the House of Lords in 2018 as a crossbench peer.

The decision to curtail hereditary peerages is rooted in a long history of reform. In 1911 and 1949, acts of parliament limited the Lords’ power. In 1958, life peers – appointed by the government rather than inheriting their seats – were introduced. A significant overhaul occurred in 1999 under then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, who removed the majority of hereditary peers, leaving 92 remaining.

“It is seemingly so wild that anybody in this day and age could inherit the right to legislate. It’s quite bonkers!” said Eleanor Doughty, author of Heirs and Graces, A History of the Modern British Aristocracy. “I suppose people do wonder about the legitimacy of these sorts of people.”

Courtenay, despite opposing the elimination of his hereditary seat, acknowledged the need for change. “I wish I could do more, but my time is up,” he said, adding that the House of Lords “does need to be more representative.” He has advocated for changes to the rules of male primogeniture, allowing women, like his three sisters, to inherit titles, and has spoken out about the need for reform within the chamber itself.

In a 2024 speech to the House of Lords, Courtenay described the chamber as “gendered” and “discriminatory,” urging parliament to move away from associations with nobility and land ownership. He has also championed social causes, including restoring the prominence of a portrait of his ancestor, William “Kitty” Courtenay, who was exiled for being gay, and marketing Powderham Castle as a venue for LGBTQ+ weddings.

The broader context of the reform reflects a continuing debate about Britain’s historical legacy and its place in the modern world. Symbols of the country’s imperial past remain prominent, from the royal family’s land holdings to the continued use of archaic traditions like judges’ wigs.

Carmen Smith, Baroness Smith of Llanfaes, a member of the House of Lords who did not inherit her seat, echoed calls for further reform. “I took my seat when I was 27. The average age of members is 71. It’s a chamber of 70% men,” she said. “So I suppose I stand out a bit!” Smith, advocating for a fully elected House of Lords, stated, “I’m working to acquire rid of my job. I don’t believe my position should exist.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to further reform the House of Lords by 2029, including establishing a mandatory retirement age and ultimately replacing the chamber with an elected body. A 2024 poll indicated that 71% of Britons support limiting the number of seats in the House of Lords, which currently has over 800 members.

Courtenay intends to contribute to the ongoing reform process, suggesting potential models for a more representative upper chamber, including election by region or profession. He emphasized the value of a longer-term perspective, given his family’s generations of involvement in public service. The future of the House of Lords, and the role of hereditary peers within it, remains an open question.