Former Conservative chief whip Viscount Ullswater, ex-private secretary to Princess Margaret, has been elected in the hereditary peers byelection, it was announced today.

Lord Ullswater, 61, beat 80 other hereditary peers and their successors to resume his seat in theHouse of Lords.

More than 400 peers took part in the ballot which was sparked by the death in January of Viscount Oxfuird.

Lord Oxfuird was one of 92 peers with inherited titles allowed to stay in parliament after the passing of the House of Lords Act in 1999, when more than 600 dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts and barons were thrown out.

In a concession to the opposition, the government agreed that if it had not moved on to the second stage of Lords reform a year after the subsequent general election, any of the remaining 92 who died would be replaced in a byelection.

Previously, dead hereditaries were replaced by runners-up in the 1999 elections.

Lord Ullswater, who was today campaigning in the local elections said in a statement: "It is a great honour to have been chosen by so many of my peers to serve again as a member of the House of Lords.

"I thank the house authorities for the efficient way the election has been conducted.

"The electoral process was laid down by parliament in 1999. As a result I am merely the latest to join 89 other elected hereditary peers in the house.

"I had the privilege of serving as a member of the house from 1964 to 1999, including a year as a government chief whip. I served in government from 1989 to 1995, in which period I acted as a minister in the employment and environment departments.

"I look forward to playing an active part in the house once again as it does its vitally important work of scrutinising and improving government legislation on behalf of the people of this country."

Lord Ullswater is standing for election to the King's Lynn and West Norfolk borough council.

The leader of the opposition peers, Lord Strathclyde, said: "I am delighted that Nick Ullswater has again been elected as a member of the house under the 1999 Act.

"This was a genuine election under a procedure agreed by the government and approved by both houses of parliament with large majorities in 1999.

"Contrary to some predictions there was a high turnout, well above the average daily attendance in the house.

"Noone who knows Nick could doubt his ability or the dedication he will bring to his renewed work in the house. I look forward to working alongside him once again."

Of 677 life and hereditary peers and bishops entitled to take part in the ballot, a total of 423 peers voted using the alternative vote system.

Lord Ullswater emerged the winner in the final vote with 151 votes to 116 for the runner-up, Viscount Montgomery.

81 hereditaries who had put their names on a register kept by the clerk to the parliaments stood for election. Of these 42 were Conservative, two Labour and two were Liberal Democrats, the rest were Independents.

The ballot comes only weeks after the government's latest bid to press ahead with the second stage of Lords reform stalled last month.

MPs rejected every one of a range of options put forward by the joint parliamentary committee of MPs and peers while the House of Lords voted to keep an appointed house.

• House of Lords