Shadow Leader of the House of Lords

The Shadow Leader of the House of Lords, also referred as the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, and casually as the Shadow Lords Leader, is the person who leads the Official Opposition in the House of Lords. Their job is to work with the Leader, Lord Speaker and other senior Lords to organise business. They also work with the opposition Chief Whip and other party spokespeople to organise the party. The holder of this office would normally become Leader of the House of Lords if the party wins an election and forms the government. This position has been held by Lord True since 8 July 2024. In the nineteenth century, party affiliations were generally less fixed and the leaders in the two Houses were often of equal status. A single and clear Leader of the Opposition was only definitively settled if the opposition leader in the House of Commons or House of Lords was the outgoing prime minister. However, since the Parliament Act 1911, there has been no dispute that the leader in the House of Commons is pre-eminent and has always held the primary title.

Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords
Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
since 8 July 2024
AppointerLeader of the Opposition
Formation1807
First holderLord Grenville
Leader of the Opposition in the Lords
The Marquess of Crewe
Shadow Leader of the Lords
WebsiteThe Labour Party

Shadow Leaders of the House of Lords (1911-present)

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This only lists leaders from the Parliament Act 1911, as that's when the Common's Leader of the Opposition was put as pre-eminent over the Lords. Previous Leaders are here

Name Portrait Entered office Left office Political party
The Marquess of Lansdowne   13 November 1911 25 May 1915 Conservative
Vacant[A] 25 May 1915 6 December 1916
The Marquess of Crewe   6 December 1916 21 November 1922 Liberal
Vacant[B] 21 November 1922 22 January 1924 Labour
The Marquess Curzon of Kedleston   22 January 1924 4 November 1924 Conservative
The Viscount Haldane   4 November 1924 19 August 1928 Labour
The Lord Parmoor   19 August 1928 5 June 1929 Labour
The Marquess of Salisbury   5 June 1929 ~1930 Conservative
The Viscount Hailsham   ~1930 24 August 1931 Conservative
The Lord Parmoor   24 August 1931 7 October 1931 Labour
The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede   7 October 1931 25 October 1935 Labour
The Lord Snell   25 October 1935 22 May 1940 Labour
The Viscount Addison   22 May 1940 23 May 1945 Labour
Viscount Cranborne[C]   23 May 1945 26 October 1951 Conservative
The Lord Addison   26 October 1951 ~1952 Labour
The Earl Jowitt   ~1952 14 December 1955 Labour
The Viscount Alexander of Hillsborough[D]   14 December 1955 16 October 1964 Labour
The Lord Carrington   16 October 1964 19 June 1970 Conservative
The Lord Shackleton 19 June 1970 4 March 1974 Labour
The Lord Carrington   4 March 1974 4 May 1979 Conservative
The Lord Peart 4 May 1979 4 November 1982 Labour
The Lord Cledwyn of Penrhost 4 November 1982 18 July 1992 Labour
The Lord Richard 18 July 1992 2 May 1997 Labour
The Marquess of Salisbury   2 May 1997 3 December 1998 Conservative
The Lord Strathclyde   3 December 1998 11 May 2010 Conservative
The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon   11 May 2010 27 May 2015 Labour
The Baroness Smith of Basildon   27 May 2015 5 July 2024 Labour
The Lord True   8 July 2024 Incumbent Conservative

Notes

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A During Asquith's coalition government of 1915–1916, there was no formal opposition in either the Commons or the Lords.
B The Labour Party did not appoint a leader in the Lords until it formed its first government in 1924.
C The Marquess of Salisbury from 1947
D The Earl Alexander of Hillsborough from 1963

See also

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