Protesters have disrupted the House of Lords with chants calling for the abolishment of the chamber.
In footage from the Palace of Westminster, the group of about half a dozen people could be heard shouting ‘Lords out, people in’ from the public gallery.
One thousand white and yellow leaflets carried by the small crowd of activists were thrown down into the chamber, where Baroness Twycross was speaking.
On one side, the papers, apparently modelled on an album by the Sex Pistols punk band, read: ‘Never mind the Lords here’s the House of People.’
On the turn, it added: ‘Aristocrats and oligarchs: Out.
‘Posties, mums, nurses and neighbours: In.
‘Replace the House of Lords to save the UK.’
As they were escorted out, the group sang a song urging viewers to ‘take back the Commons’ and ‘raise a glass to Thomas Paine’, Sky News reports.
Baroness Twycross, a Labour peer, looked bemused as the white leaflets began to fall around her
Leaflets carried by the small crowd of activists were thrown down into the chamber, where Baroness Twycross was speaking
As they were escorted out, the group sang a song urging viewers to ‘take back the Commons’ and ‘raise a glass to Thomas Paine’
Photos of the House of Lords after the incident showed leaflets remaining caught in the chamber’s elaborate clock
Paine, an English-born American Founding Father, penned the Rights of Man in the 1790s – defending the French Revolution.
The protesters said they were acting on behalf of Assemble, an organisation that campaigns for the Lords to be abolished and replaced by a citizens’ assembly.
They claim their actions mirror the Suffragettes in 1908, when they rained hanbills down onto the House of Commons demanding suffrage for women.
Baroness Twycross, a Labour peer, looked bemused as the white leaflets began to fall around her.
She had been delivering a statement on the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe and Japan.
The current Government Whip, she received a life peerage in 2022 as p[art of the Special Honours.
Photos of the House of Lords after the incident showed leaflets remaining caught in the chamber’s elaborate clock.
The House was adjourned for a short time as the demonstrators were escorted out.
Protester Lucy Porter, 50, a primary school teacher from Leeds, told the PA news agency she was ‘campaigning for a house of the people’.
Protester Lucy Porter, 50, a primary school teacher from Leeds, told the PA news agency she was ‘campaigning for a house of the people’
On the Lords, she said: ‘It’s a symbol of everything that’s outdated.
‘We don’t have a functioning democracy in this country.’
Citizens’ assemblies are selected by sortition, which means members of the public are picked at random via a lottery.
Supporters of this system argue it means a more representative sample of the population are able to come together and debate important issues.
Another demonstrator, who wished to be known only as Christina, said: ‘We did this action on behalf of Assemble and the ask is that, instead of a House of Lords, which is a house of unelected wealthy elites, we have a house of the people.
‘So, we have citizens’ assemblies where people can participate in real democracy, instead of having everything handed to them from up high.’
Christina Jenkins, 31, a care worker from Cwmbranadded: “We need a People’s House, not a house of wealthy elites. Lords: give up your seat! How can we a real democracy when we’re only given the chance to vote once every five years?
‘Even then, so many people don’t vote because their voices still go unheard.
‘Whether it’s the spiralling cost of living crisis, insecure housing, wars or the climate crisis, you don’t have to look far to see the symptoms of a broken political system.’
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
