Most of Britain's Parliament is not elected... Meet THE LORDS
TLDRThis video script explores the democratic legitimacy of the UK's House of Lords, a body where most members are unelected. It features the Earl of Selborne, a hereditary peer, discussing his role and the system's flaws. The script questions the need for reform, highlighting the House's cost to taxpayers and its undemocratic nature. It also touches on the public's mixed views on the matter, suggesting that while there's a desire for a more democratic system, there's also a lack of understanding of the House of Lords' functions.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ The UK's House of Lords is often considered undemocratic because most of its members are not elected by the public.
- 👑 There are three main ways to become a member of the House of Lords: appointment as a life peer, becoming a bishop, or inheriting the position as a hereditary peer.
- 🎩 Members of the House of Lords are known as peers and are often seen in traditional robes, which some view as outdated and caricature-like.
- 📜 The Earl of Selburn, a hereditary peer, has been part of the House of Lords for 48 years and has seen nine prime ministers and twelve elections without ever being voted in by the public.
- 🎉 The House of Lords has been criticized for being a club for the posh and rich, with many members enjoying privileges and titles inherited over centuries.
- 🗳️ Since 2002, there have been elections for hereditary peers, but the catch is that only those from the aristocracy can be candidates, which some argue is still not democratic.
- 💼 The House of Lords has faced scrutiny for its expenses scandals, with some members claiming large sums for daily attendance and others receiving full salaries with chauffeur-driven cars.
- 💐 Baroness d'Souza, a speaker in the House of Lords, defended her expenses, including a chauffeur-driven car to the ballet and the cost of flowers for visitors.
- 🔍 The House of Lords is also criticized for being a hangover from a different age, with some arguing that its hereditary system is not reflective of modern democratic values.
- 🤔 There is a debate about whether the House of Lords should be reformed to be more democratic, but there is also a recognition of the unique role it plays in scrutinizing legislation.
- 📊 A recent survey showed that while 95% of respondents agreed that the House of Lords should be democratically elected, they also expressed a reluctance to have more elected politicians.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video script?
-The main topic of the video script is the examination of the House of Lords in the UK, questioning its relevance and democratic legitimacy in the 21st century.
How does the video script describe the House of Lords in the context of democracy?
-The video script describes the House of Lords as potentially undemocratic, as the majority of its members are not elected by the public but are instead appointed or inherit their positions.
What is the caricature of the House of Lords presented by the media according to the script?
-The media caricature of the House of Lords is that of peers in their robes, which the script humorously compares to a scene from a Harry Potter movie rather than a modern legislative body.
Who is the Earl of Selburn and what is his role in the House of Lords?
-The Earl of Selburn is a British nobleman who has sat in the House of Lords for 48 years. He is part of the hereditary peers, having inherited his position and has had a say on almost every new law brought in.
How did the Earl of Selburn become a member of the House of Lords?
-The Earl of Selburn became a member of the House of Lords through heredity following the death of his grandfather in 1971. He had to provide his birth certificate and his grandfather's death certificate to the clerk of parliament.
What are the three main ways to become a peer in the House of Lords as mentioned in the script?
-The three main ways to become a peer in the House of Lords are: being appointed as a life peer, becoming a bishop with one of the 26 seats reserved for the Church of England, or inheriting the position as a hereditary peer.
What is the Earl of Selburn's view on the hereditary peerage system?
-The Earl of Selburn acknowledges that he has been a hereditary peer by an accident of birth and does not claim to have more expertise than anyone else. He does not defend the hereditary system and admits it cannot be logically defended.
What is the significance of the 2002 elections for hereditary peers mentioned in the script?
-The elections for hereditary peers in 2002 were significant because they were an attempt to introduce a form of democracy into the House of Lords. However, the script points out that these elections were limited to the aristocracy, thus not being truly democratic.
What are some of the criticisms against the House of Lords in terms of cost and expenses?
-The House of Lords has been criticized for its cost to taxpayers, including the expenses scandals and the high cost of maintaining the building. Un-elected peers can claim up to £305 in expenses daily just for attending, and some receive full salaries with chauffeur-driven cars.
What is Baroness d'Souza's defense regarding her expenses claims in the House of Lords?
-Baroness d'Souza defends her expenses by stating that they were not incurred for personal gain but for the purpose of her role, such as spending on flowers for guests and using a chauffeur-driven car for security reasons when accompanied by a Russian speaker.
What is the script's final question regarding the House of Lords and the UK's political system?
-The script's final question is whether it is time to change the House of Lords or if the UK is democratic enough already, suggesting that while the UK has democratic elements, there is room for improvement to make democracy more meaningful and healthier.
Outlines
🏛️ The Undemocratic House of Lords
This paragraph introduces the House of Lords as a part of the UK's parliamentary system that is not subject to direct public election. It questions the relevance of the House of Lords in the 21st century and presents it as potentially an outdated institution for the wealthy and privileged. The script features an interview with the Earl of Selburn, a hereditary peer, who discusses his experience and the process of becoming a member of the House of Lords through inheritance. The Earl acknowledges the undemocratic nature of the hereditary system but also reflects on the unique perspective it allows in parliamentary discussions, free from the pressures of re-election faced by members of the House of Commons.
👑 The Hereditary Peers and Their Justifications
The second paragraph delves into the peculiarities of the hereditary peerage system, highlighting the absurdity of personal statements submitted by those seeking to inherit seats in the House of Lords. It critiques the lack of public accountability and the cost to taxpayers of maintaining the House of Lords, including expenses scandals. The narrative includes an interview with Baroness d'Souza, who defends the role of the House of Lords in scrutinizing legislation and raising important issues that might be overlooked by the elected government. Despite acknowledging the public's general lack of interest in the House of Lords, the paragraph suggests that there is a growing sentiment for a more democratic system, even though the public may not fully understand the implications of such a change.
🗳️ The Democratic Dilemma of the UK's Political System
The final paragraph wraps up the discussion on the House of Lords by pondering whether the UK's political system is democratic enough. It suggests that while the UK is technically a democracy, there are significant areas for improvement to make it more meaningful and responsive to the public's desires. The script hints at upcoming content that will explore the democratic nature of the rest of the UK's political system, inviting viewers to share their thoughts and ideas in the comments and to subscribe for more videos on the topic.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Democracy
💡House of Lords
💡Hereditary Peers
💡Life Peers
💡Bishops
💡Reform
💡Expenses Scandals
💡Accountability
💡Legislation
💡Public Opinion
💡Election
Highlights
The UK's House of Lords is often criticized for not being democratically elected.
The majority of politicians in the House of Lords have not been elected by the public.
The House of Lords has been described as a club for posh, old men and rich elites.
The Earl of Selburn, a hereditary peer, has sat in Parliament for 48 years without public election.
Hereditary peers like the Earl of Selburn inherit their titles and influence over generations.
Becoming a peer in the House of Lords can also occur through appointment as a life peer or as a Church of England bishop.
Hereditary peers are born into a ruling establishment class and given powerful parliamentary positions.
The Earl of Selburn acknowledges that hereditary peers have no more expertise than anyone else by birth.
The House of Lords is criticized for being undemocratic and for its cost to taxpayers.
Unreformed hereditary peer elections only allow candidates from the aristocracy.
Some hereditary peers have submitted absurd personal statements to secure their seats.
Baroness d'Souza defends the House of Lords' role in preparing legislation and addressing difficult issues.
Expenses scandals in the House of Lords have included extravagant claims by unelected peers.
Baroness d'Souza discusses the public's lack of accountability over unelected peers and their expenses.
A recent census showed 95% of respondents believe the House of Lords should be democratically elected, but also showed reluctance to have more elected politicians.
The video concludes questioning whether the UK is democratic enough and if changes to the House of Lords are necessary.
Transcripts
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