Lloyd George Society Chair – Welsh Lib Dem Peers face extinction

• nicholasalderton
• 18 July 2026

Martin Shipton, friend of the Lloyd George Society and our recent after-dinner speaker, has written an article for Nation.Cymru, highlighting the decline in the number of Welsh Liberal Democrat peers.

The outgoing Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, nominated five Liberal Democrats in his resignation honours list. However, for the 13th year in a row, no Welsh Liberal Democrats have been elevated to the House of Lords.

The article also highlights that with the proposals that an age limit of 80 be phased in, the remaining four Welsh Liberal Democrat peers could be forced to retire. The ages of the Welsh Liberal Democrat peers are: ‘Baroness Christine Humphreys, who is 79; Lord Martin Thomas, who is 89; Lord Mike German, who is 81, and Lord Roger Roberts, who is 90.’

Our Chair, Professor Russell Deacon, author of the History of Welsh Liberalism said ‘“The Liberal Democrats are a federal party with equality meant to be spread between England, Wales and Scotland but this seems to have been forgotten and in the House of Lords it’s very much an English Party!

“Not long ago there were six Welsh peers from Wales representing the Liberal Democrats; after the next general election, because they can no longer attend after the age of 80 they will become extinct. This does not bode well for the future of Liberalism in Wales.”’

If there is to be a House of Lords, then there should be a continuing Welsh Liberal Democrat presence. The current peers have contributed greatly to the scrutiny of this and previous governments, whilst calling for reform. Liberalism in Wales has a proud history and cannot be allowed to fade away by indifference, either by the federal party or in politics generally.

In the next round of peers, the Liberal Democrats must nominate people from Wales.

I’m sure we can all think of more than a few people who would work diligently in the Lords and fight for its reform. Our current peers and Welsh Liberalism deserve that legacy to continue.