Overview
- Conservative Lords leader Lord True says Reform’s Commons presence means its views should be represented in the upper chamber as a matter of constitutional principle.
- He notes he previously pressed for additional Labour peers under Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, arguing the chamber needs renewal given its average age of about 70.
- Nigel Farage asked Sir Keir Starmer in August to create Reform life peers, citing 4.1 million votes in 2024, local gains, sustained polling leads and a by-election victory.
- This month Sir Keir created 25 Labour peers, with five for the Liberal Democrats and three for the Conservatives, while smaller parties including the DUP, UUP, Greens and Plaid Cymru already hold seats.
- Former Conservative life peer Malcolm Offord has joined Reform UK and says he will relinquish his Lords seat to stand in the Scottish Parliament election in May.