His Majesty’s Stationery Office
Peerages Act 2020
14 Max. c. 4
An Act to make various provisions concerning peerages and the issue of writs of summons to attend the House of Lords; and to make provision for the suspension of peerages in certain circumstances.
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Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
1. Revocation of peerages
It is hereby declared that the grant of a peerage may not be revoked except in pursuance of an Act of Parliament.2. Abolition of peerages by writ
(1) The issue of a writ of summons to attend the House of Lords to a person not entitled to be a member of that House does not create a peerage nor entitle any person to be a member of that House.
(2) This section has effect from 6 June 2007.
3. Abolition of writs in acceleration
There may not be issued to any person a writ of summons to attend the House of Lords in right of a peerage to which that person is the heir apparent.4. Merger of peerages in the Crown
Where His Majesty succeeds to a peerage, or the holder of a peerage accedes to the Throne, that peerage shall not merge in the Crown or otherwise cease to exist but shall remain in abeyance during His Majesty’s life, and the succession to the peerage thereafter shall not be affected.5. Suspension of peerages where peer has not voted for two years
(1) Upon the commencement of every session of Parliament, the Lord Chancellor shall report to His Majesty and to the House of Lords the name of every person who—
(a) has been a member of the House of Lords throughout the period of two years immediately preceding that commencement; and
(b) has not at any time during that period voted (or expressly abstained from voting) on any Question in the House of Lords or any committee thereof.
(2) Unless within 20 days after the making of such a report the House of Lords otherwise orders, His Majesty may after the expiration of that period, by letters patent under the Great Seal, suspend any peerage held by any person whose name has been so reported.
(3) Where a peerage is suspended under subsection (2), the holder for the time being of that peerage shall cease to hold the peerage and to have any title, right or privilege by virtue thereof, and no person shall be entitled to succeed to the peerage.
(4) The person who was the holder of a peerage suspended under subsection (2), or a person who would have succeeded to that peerage if it were not suspended, may at any time petition His Majesty that the peerage be restored, and His Majesty shall thereupon, by letters patent under the Great Seal, cause the peerage to be restored, and subsection (3) shall cease to apply to the peerage.
(5) In determining any period of time for the purposes of this section, any period during which Parliament is prorogued or dissolved shall be entirely disregarded.