On The
Ground

Josiah Mortimer

(Farage-Free) Reform

Some hefty pieces of legislation were passed just before Parliament shut up shop at the end of April – even if local elections, Keir Starmer’s troubles, and the generous platform provided instead to Reform UK have buried most of the coverage.

Hereditary peers are gone. So that’s bye-bye to the 90-odd left in the Lords under a (bizarre) Blair-era compromise. I don’t bear any particular ill-will towards the individuals, except those who, outrageously, filibustered any attempts at reform made in the past two decades.

The Renters’ Rights Act got some attention, partly because of the howls of anguish from property barons. But there was plenty more.

More than 20 million workers are set to benefit from the new Pension Schemes Act, a major reform to the UK pensions system. Officials estimate it will benefit an average worker up to £29,000 by the time they retire, consolidating smaller funds into heftier powerhouses.