Proceedings in the House of Lords were thrown into disarray on Thursday afternoon as a group of protesters, representing the organisation Assemble, staged a vociferous demonstration calling for the abolition of the unelected chamber. This outburst transpired shortly after noon during a debate led by Labour peer Baroness Twycross, which aimed to commemorate the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) and Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day).

Around half a dozen individuals from the public gallery erupted with slogans such as “Lords out, people in,” and tossed leaflets into the chamber. These leaflets bore a striking resemblance to punk album covers from the Sex Pistols, boldly proclaiming sentiments like “Never mind the Lords, here’s the House of People,” while also demanding the ousting of “Aristocrats and oligarchs,” and calling for the inclusion of “Posties, mums, murses and neighbours.” The protest underscored what many critics see as the obsolete nature of the House of Lords and the clamour for a citizens’ assembly model. This model, based on random selection, represents a stark shift away from our current system, which stood tall against the avalanche of unelected elites.

Following the uproar, security personnel swiftly escorted the protesters out, prompting a brief adjournment in the House. Lucy Porter, a primary school teacher from Leeds and one of the demonstrators, voiced a sentiment shared by many disillusioned voters: “It’s a symbol of everything that’s outdated. We don’t have a functioning democracy in this country.” Such statements reflect a growing sentiment that the establishment—now under Labour leadership—is out of touch with the public.

Another participant, who opted to identify herself simply as Christina, elaborated on their purpose: “We did this action on behalf of Assemble… instead of a House of Lords, which is a house of unelected wealthy elites, we have a house of the people.” Her comments draw attention to the significant and escalating concerns about democratic engagement, particularly as the cost-of-living crisis, housing shortages, and climate change continue to ravage communities across the country.

A spokesperson for the House of Lords did acknowledge the incident but refrained from providing substantive commentary on the protest, a reflection of the governing party’s apparent unwillingness to confront the deepening crisis of representation that now faces the nation.

This disruption serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle over the legitimacy and functionality of the House of Lords—an institution increasingly seen as perpetuating the power of unelected elites while real, pressing democratic needs remain unaddressed under the new Labour regime. The call for reform and genuine representation resounds louder than ever as an emerging political voice seeks to challenge the status quo and demand accountability.

Source: Noah Wire Services