Non-affiliated members of the House of Lords are peers who do not belong to any parliamentary group in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom. They do not take a political party's whip, nor affiliate to the crossbench group, nor are they Lords Spiritual (active Church of England bishops). Formerly, the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary were also a separate affiliation, but due to the creation of the Supreme Court, were disqualified from sitting in the Lords until they no longer hold judicial office.
Most non-party Lords Temporal are crossbenchers. Peers may also be required to sit as non-affiliated while they hold certain senior positions within the Lords (e.g. the senior deputy speaker), as a means to preserve the neutrality of their official roles. Some members become non-affiliated after resigning or being expelled from a party, either through a political disagreement or after a scandal such as the 2009 parliamentary expenses scandal. Others have had no party allegiance and chose this designation rather than joining the crossbench.
A member who is elected as Lord Speaker must withdraw from any party affiliation, but is not considered to be a non-affiliated peer. Former lord speakers have sat as crossbenchers after holding office.
Non-affiliated members The UK Parliament website lists the following non-affiliated members of the House of Lords, including those not currently eligible to sit in the Lords:
MemberPrevious affiliationReason for changeLord Allan of Hallam Liberal DemocratBaroness Altmann ConservativeLord Austin of Dudley LabourJoined Lords without party affiliationLord Barwell ConservativeLord Brennan Labour noneCurrently ineligible as Lady Chief Justice of England and WalesLord Cashman LabourLabour whip withdrawn following criticism of Rosie Duffield during her 2024 campaign for her Parliament seatBaroness Chisholm of Owlpen ConservativeLord Cooper of Windrush ConservativeSuspended from Conservative whip after expressing support for Liberal Democrats in 2019 European Parliament electionsLord Darzi of Denham LabourResigned from Labour whip in July 2019 in protest of the party's response to antisemitism complaintsLord Davies of Abersoch LabourLord Docherty of Milngavie LabourSuspended from Labour whip pending investigation into sexual allegations during his tenure as chief executive of NCG.Lord Doyle LabourLord Evans of Watford LabourLabour whip removed upon suspension from the House in connection with lobbying scandalLord Faulks ConservativeBaroness Foster of Aghadrumsee Joined Lords without party affiliationBaroness Fox of Buckley BrexitJoined Lords without party affiliationLord Frost ConservativeWithdrew from Conservative whip to serve as director general of Institute of Economic AffairsLord Gadhia ConservativeLord Hannan of Kingsclere ConservativeLord Harrington of Watford ConservativeLord Hobby LabourJoined Lords without party affiliationBaroness Hoey LabourJoined Lords without party affiliationBaroness Lampard ConservativeLord Lancaster of Kimbolton ConservativeAssistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets)Baroness Longfield LabourWithdrew from Labour whip upon appointment as chair of Independent Inquiry into Grooming GangsLord Lupton ConservativeBaroness McGregor-Smith ConservativeLord Mackenzie of Framwellgate LabourFollowing return from suspension from the House in connection with lobbying scandalBaroness Mone ConservativeLord Moore of Etchingham noneJoined Lords without party affiliationBaroness Morgan of Cotes ConservativeBaroness Moyo ConservativeLord Paddick Liberal DemocratWithdrew from Liberal Democrat whip during his advisory role with the Metropolitan PoliceLord Patel of Bradford LabourLord Pearson of Rannoch UKIPResigned UKIP whip in protest of party leadership during Brexit negotiationsLord Ponsonby of Shulbrede LabourSenior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords (2026–present)Lord Rosenfield noneJoined Lords without party affiliationLord Taylor of Warwick ConservativeFollowing return from suspension from the House in connection with expenses scandal and imprisonment for false accountingLord Truscott LabourResigned Labour whip following the "cash for influence" allegations of 2009Lord Tyrie ConservativeEntered the House without affiliation due to his role as Chairman of the Competition and Markets AuthorityBaroness Uddin LabourFollowing return from suspension from the House in connection with expenses scandalBaroness Vadera LabourLord Verdirame noneJoined Lords without party affiliationBaroness Warsi ConservativeLord Wasserman ConservativeBaroness Young of Old Scone LabourAppointed as Forestry Commission chair
Independent members There are other peers who list themselves as Independent within the House of Lords:
MemberPrevious affiliationDesignationNotesResigned from party whip following homophobic remarks.Currently suspended from the LordsLord Stevens of LudgateConservative IndependentExpelled from Conservative whip in 2004 for supporting UKIP, sat as Conservative Independent until 2012
See also List of current members of the House of Lords
References