The House of Lords includes hereditary and life peers. Life peers are men and women who have been appointed, usually for political reasons, for the rest of their natural lives. They also include bishops of the Church of England.
Hereditary peers are men who have inherited their titles, often granted centuries ago, from their fathers. Many of these peers stay away from the Lords and are, in effect, absentee members. Some lead eccentric lives.
Of the hereditary peers, 302 take the Conservative whip. Only 24 take the Liberal Democrat whip and 18 support Labour.
The life peers include 169 Conservatives, 140 Labour supporters, 42 Liberal Democrats, 118 Crossbenchers (lords who do not formally support any political party) and eight others.