House of Lords Speaker be a member of the House of Lords (though the same has long been customary). Whilst presiding over the House of Lords, the Lord Chancellor traditionally wore ceremonial black and gold robes. Robes of black and gold are now worn by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice in the House of Commons, on ceremonial occasions. This is no longer a requirement for the Lord Speaker except for State occasions outside of the chamber. The Speaker or Deputy Speaker sits on the Woolsack, a large red seat stuffed with wool, at the front of the Lords Chamber.
Members of the House of Lords have died since December 2017: In addition to the hereditary peers excluded under the House of Lords Act 1999 and retired Lords Spiritual, there are a number of peers who have permanently ceased to be members of the House. Under section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014, peers may permanently retire or otherwise resign their membership of the House. The following peers have exercised that right since the Act came into force in August 2014 and are either still living or have died since December 2017: Additionally, the following peers elected to retire from the House of