1 Why the House of Lords matters
2 Achieving change: reforms, 1911 to 2015
3 Retain
4 Reform
5 Replace
6 Remove altogether
7 The future of the second chamber
Further reading
References
Index

In Reform of the House of Lords, Philip Norton provides a succinct analysis of the role of Britain’s second chamber, highlighting previous attempts at reform and assessing current approaches to change.

Using a comprehensive framework based on four Rs – Retain, Reform, Replace, and Remove – Norton identifies the pros and cons for each approach, and offers an assessment of the debate as a whole. This distinctive approach serves as a corrective to the existing literature on the subject, drawing out competing arguments and providing a firm basis for readers to reach their own conclusions.

As a sitting-member of the House of Lords, Norton has first-hand experience of the chamber’s functions, as well as its benefits and negatives, making this essential reading for anyone with an interest in Britain’s parliamentary system.