A CONTROVERSIAL system used to choose which aristocrats get to sit in the House of Lords has been suspended for six months due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The move to put hereditary peer by-elections on hold was among a series of changes to the operation of the upper chamber in response to “the current exceptional circumstances”, members heard.

Other measures include moving where peers vote to allow for social distancing and relaxing the rules to beef up the team of deputy speakers, who oversee the business of the House when it is sitting.

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It comes after the Lord Speaker announced last week that he was “reluctantly” withdrawing from the House of Lords in view of the coronavirus advice for the over-70s.

Lord Fowler, 82, also said no member of the Lords, where the average age is 70, should consider “it is their duty” to attend during present circumstances.

Over the last week, there have been noticeably fewer peers in the chamber, and those that have been present have sat apart like the MPs.

Proposing the suspension of hereditary peer by-elections until September, Tory Lord leader Baroness Evans of Bowes Park said it was needed because without it one would have had to be held before June 26 “owing to an imminent retirement”.

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But the step has led to questions why it cannot be made permanent, given the extensive opposition to the contentious selection process.

Labour peer Lord Faulkner of Worcester argued if the Government could “make this possible now, why is it not possible otherwise”.

However, Lady Evans said: “I am sure you will agree this is a very sensible step in the circumstances. I have no doubt we will debate this matter further when we return to normal circumstances.”

There have been repeated demands in the Lords to scrap the exclusive contests used to fill vacancies caused by the death, resignation or expulsion of hereditary peers.