Peerage Bill

The Peerage Bill was a 1719 measure proposed by the British Whig government led by James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope, and Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, which would have largely halted the creation of new peerages, limiting membership of the House of Lords.

[1] It was inspired by a desire to prevent a repeat of the 1711 creation of twelve Tory peers, known widely as "Harley's Dozen", in order to secure the passage of the peace treaty with France through the Whig-dominated Lords.

However, Robert Walpole rallied opposition to it and successfully appealed to MPs by arguing the bill would deny them and their families the opportunity of ever being allowed to join the aristocracy.

[3] Tories also strongly opposed the measure, including Robert Harley who criticised the proposal as potentially undermining Britain's constitution.

[4] The bill led to a public dispute between Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, former friends and collaborators on The Spectator and both Whig members of the Kit-Kat Club.