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Written question asked by Lord Grocott (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 March 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 23 March 2021. It was answered by Lord True (Conservative) on Thursday, 25 March 2021 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Labour Party and Liberal Democrats: Peers

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord True on 11 February (HL12711) and 8 March (HL13422), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, what is their assessment of the equivalent figures for (1) the Labour, and (2) the Liberal Democrat, Party when following a similar methodology to the one used to determine underrepresentation of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords.

Answer

Reflecting the method in my previous answers, the Liberal Democrat party is over-represented; the Conservative Party is significantly under-represented; the Labour Party has a proportion of seats in this House that is less than its seat share in the Commons, but not by a significant amount.

Notwithstanding that, there are different ways of assessing the issue. For example, one may wish to consider the share of this House excluding cross-benchers and bishops, or look at composition of peers taking a political whip. Under both measures, Liberal Democrats are significantly over-represented.

The noble Lord will be able to make his own further calculations from public domain information, if he wishes.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL14037
Session
2019-21
Related items
Conservative Party: Peers
Thursday, 11 February 2021
Written questions
House of Lords
Labour Party and Liberal Democrats: Peers
Monday, 8 March 2021
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Peers Labour Liberal Democrat
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk