#GavinWilliamson wants #ChurchofEngland #bishops out of the House of #Lords, compares #UK to #Iran. "If [he] thinks #Parliament functions like the #Iranian #Majles then, I suppose, that rather explains his performance as an #MP for so many years", says a bishop's aide
https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/checkmate-bishops-booted-lords

"Abolishing the 92 seats reserved for hereditary peers - who inherit their titles through their family - was one of Labour's election promises. The move finishes reforms started by the last Labour government, which revoked the 700-year-old right of all hereditary peers to sit in the Lords in 1999, leaving only 92 remaining as a comprise with the Conservatives."

#UKpolitics #Labour #Lords

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl2j90ydzgo

So, the first move in reforming the Lords looks likely to be in the King's Speech - abolition of the position of heredity Lords (who will retain access to the bars & restaurants of the House, as a sop).

All well & good; perhaps the next thing would be to rename the rest of the lifetime appointments something other than 'Lords' (not too onerous, except in stationary terms)...

Then the real job can start: changing the way people enter the chamber & how long they stay...

#Lords #politics
h/t FT

30 Apr 1532: William Benson Abbot of the #Benedictine House of Burton-on-Trent becomes first abbot of that house to be summoned to the #Lords #otd

A Thomas Cromwell client, he became Abbot of #Westminster in 1533, and then Dean of the new cathedral (UToronto)

The depths to which UK polity has sunk nicely illustrated by the ragbag of rogues being elevated to the #Lords - and those who get to choose them

Long past time for #lordsAbolition

At the very least a "one in, two out" rule for those nominated by political parties...membership should not be for life.... or - I dunno - maybe allow us to vote on membership?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67843755

It’s one of the most remarkable stories in Scottish sport; Freuchie’s success in the 1985 National Village Cup at Lord’s when they beat Rowledge in a nail-biting final. I was involved in a documentary “Freuchie Fever”, which is on BBC Radio Scotland on December 26 and 27 at 1pm. It’s narrated by Andrew Cotter! #Freuchie #Lords #CricketScotland https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/past-times/1533316/freuchies-lords-triumph-the-fifers-crossed-the-forth-bridge-twice-and-took-london-by-storm/

UK Survey - House of Lords

Share your thoughts on how you feel about the unelected House of Lords.

This is a quick, multi choice survey. Less they 30 seconds to complete.

https://action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/139578/-/1

Former PM David Cameron’s appointment as Foreign Secretary has triggered fresh calls to abolish the House of Lords

There is no requirement for cabinet ministers to be a MP

It is rare senior offices of state are held by unelected politicians

#Lobbyist Cameron has been handed a seat in the Lords for life to take up the role

This joins a string of outrages about the urgent need to ditch the Lords

https://bylinetimes.com/2023/11/13/david-camerons-appointment-to-cabinet-another-reminder-why-the-house-of-lords-must-go/

46,562: the number of #taxpayer funded pints drunk in the #HousesofParliament. All because food and alcohol for #MPs and #Lords is subsidised. Last year, the alcohol bill cost us £500,000 including 2,800 bottles of bubbly.

Please sign the #petition now to stop taxpayers money propping up the bars in #Westminster

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-taxpayers-money-being-spent-on-booze?source=rawlink&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=rawlink&share=9378afb7-ff52-4f27-af55-4391c79584cd

The UK government's atrocious attempt to bypass old EU laws requiring house building not to pollute waterways has been defeated by the House of Lords.

#GoodNews #UK #Government #Law #Housing #Building #Lords #Labour

https://www.ft.com/content/5558364c-e40c-42e9-bbf4-837b1f57a4d1

Serious question!

I am going to #Lords tomorrow to watch the final day of the #England #NewZealand #ODI #cricket.

I've never been to the cricket before. So am excited (it also happens to be my birthday - huzzah!).

But.......

I don't know what to wear. I know this is fairly pathetic but my mate says I have to wear a suit and tie, but I assume he's winding me up. From what I can tell, it's only the members areas where they have a strict dress code. And the general area - as long as you're in a shirt and shoes, smart casual is pretty much acceptable. If I wore a pair of smart black jeans, a shirt and jacket and some loafers, will I look like an titanic idiot or will I be a)underdressed or b)overdressed?

It's been 4 years since I wore a suit and sadly none of them fit.

BREAKING: Boris Johnson's new Lords appointees have donated £17m to the Tory Party.

Johnson put Tory donors in the Lords at twice the rate of any other PM since 2013, openDemocracy analysis shows.

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/boris-johnson-tory-donors-house-of-lords-starmer-corbyn/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=newsie_social

“THE #Scottish #Government is holding “urgent” talks to prevent a plot by unelected #Lords to give #Westminster new #HenryVIIIPowers” to unilaterally scrap #Scotland’s #environmental rules.

An amendment to the #UK Government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill would give #London the power to overturn rules made by the #ScottishParliament – with minimal scrutiny or accountability.”

https://www.thenational.scot/news/23674483.scottish-government-urgent-talks-change-levelling-bill/?ref=suit

Govt set to clash with peers when its plan to tackle small boat crossings takes its next step through Parliament later

Illegal Migration Bill expected to run into significant opposition in #Lords

In a warning shot, Suella #Braverman said the bill represents "the will of the British people"

Why do failing populists always invoke "the will of the people"? A phrase beloved of fascists & never accurate "the people" not possessing of a hive mind

#toriesOut

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65535784

Again, no reason for the PM who hit the ground (with an almighty thud) to have power to stack the Lords. But for #Truss to make Mark #Littlewood a peer (he’s secretive, self-interested, Brexit pushing, #IEA member of Tufton Street who incubated Kwasi #Kwarteng ‘s economy-crashing budget) well, the argument for #reform of the #Lords just got that bit LOUDER.

https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2023/03/25/there-should-be-no-place-in-the-house-of-lords-for-mark-littlewood/