OFF: Starship Troopers (was Classic

[Dave Berry]

On 14 Jan 12:12, Ola Nyberg wrote:
> Dave wrote:
> <Still, at least the current lot are incorporating the European Bill Of
> <Rights, setting up a Scottish Parliament, introducing some sort of
> <Freedom Of Information bill, and getting rid of hereditary peers.
>
> Hereditary peers? Please explain.

A "peer" in this context is a member of the House Of Lords, the second
chamber of the British parliament.  People either become lords by
appointment by a government (they then remain lords for life), or by
right of birth (the latter being the remnants of the aristocracy).
The current government is planning to remove the right of the
aristocracy to sit in the house of lords.  (There are some other
members of the House of Lords by virtue of holding certain offices,
e.g. some bishops, but I think these are fairly small in number).

The House Of Lords has much less power than the House Of Commons,
but can review details of proposed legislation, and on rare occasions
they can delay non-financial legislation considerably (which can
sometimes be a good thing).

Dave.

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