An attempt to remove hereditary legislators from the British parliament was met with what the Financial Times called “fierce opposition” from legislators-for-life.
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Unelected legislators meet in Parliament
A Labour legislator-for-life had proposed that the 92 legislators who have inherited their seats in parliament from a relative should not be replaced automatically when they die or retire. At present the others hereditary “lords” choose a replacement.
In the course of the debate one “lord” justified the feudal privilege of the hereditary legislators on the grounds that “they make an excellent contribution”.
Hugh Trenchard, who has an hereditary seat said that his hereditary comrades brought an “independent element because they do not owe their presence or their right to sit in this house to prime ministerial patronage”.
Because the government does not support the reform it is unlikely to become law.