LONDON — The UK government has proposed a major parliamentary reform to abolish the remaining hereditary peers' right to sit and vote in the House of Lords, marking the most significant change to the upper chamber in 25 years.

The bill, announced on Thursday, aims to remove the last 92 hereditary peers, ending a tradition that has lasted for centuries.

This reform will complete the process begun by Tony Blair’s government in 1999, which removed most hereditary seats but allowed a small number to remain under a temporary arrangement.

The proposed legislation, expected to be enacted in 2024, will eliminate the current system of internal byelections used to fill vacancies.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister for the constitution, described the move as a "landmark" step, emphasizing the need for a more modern and representative second chamber.

"The hereditary principle in lawmaking is outdated, and people should not be voting on our laws in parliament by an accident of birth," he said.

The current 92 hereditary peers are all white men with an average age of nearly 70, a demographic criticized for being unrepresentative of contemporary Britain.

The reform will also see the removal of the Earl Marshal and Lord Great Chamberlain, two prominent ceremonial roles.

The Labour Party, which has long called for a revamp of the House of Lords, included the removal of hereditary peers in its latest manifesto, labeling their continued presence as "indefensible."

The bill’s passage will mark the final step in modernizing the House of Lords, shifting towards a fully appointed, merit-based upper chamber. — Agencies