Peers today demanded a long-awaited shake-up of the House of Lords – after Britain emerges from the coronavirus crisis.
Calls have been mounting for a major overhaul of the unelected chamber, which has about 800 members.
One prominent peer, former Lord Speaker Baroness Hayman, said numbers on the red benches should be capped.
Speaking in a debate over video link, the independent peer urged ministers to draw-up plans for a revamp once the Covid-19 pandemic eases.
Calling for the Government to “consider putting a cap on the size of the House”, she admitted: “Reducing the size of the House is obviously not a priority for the moment. But it is something that we need to do.”
Fellow independent peer Baroness Falkner said: “I completely support the idea of reforming the House of Lords – in fact, I was enthusiastic about the last reform.”
She called for more a “balanced chamber, representing the protected characteristics but expertise beyond the current framework.”
However, Cabinet Office Minister Lord True signalled the Tories could propel more peers into the Upper House.
“The Government doesn't intend to put a cap on the size of the House,” he said.
“Indeed, the Government's position is that the House will from time to time need refreshing.”
Today's emergency debate was triggered by a weekend report claiming peers aged over-65 could be barred from the House until a coronavirus vaccine is found, amid plans to curb membership through an age limit.
A Whitehall source told the Sunday Times: "Inside No 10 they are mulling whether this is the moment to rejig the House of Lords.
“They're all so old there is no prospect of them going on and doing their job.”
The source added: "People are asking if this is the moment to retire everyone over the age of 65.
“It hasn't reached a Cabinet committee but they are thinking about it."
But Lord True said there was “no substance in this story”, adding: “It is not the intention of the Government to introduce such a policy.”
He ignored calls to order a Whitehall mole hunt to discover who was behind the story.
Electoral Reform Society chief executive Darren Hughes said: “Real reform of the unelected Lords is long-overdue.
“The House of Lords has shown itself to be opaque and unfit for purpose, but it’s been clear for years that the chamber needs an overhaul.
“It’s clear that this country could emerge very different once this crisis is over.
“That means having conversations about how we’re governed, challenging old arrangements that no longer work.
“Our democratic structures must be part of this.
“We urge the government to get behind a proportionally-elected senate that speaks up for the nations and regions of the UK.”
