No Nobles Day: Britain's Parliament boots its last hereditary Lords after 700 years

"Our parliament should always be a place where talents are recognized and merit counts. It should never be a gallery of old boys' networks, nor a place where titles, many of which were handed out centuries ago, hold power over the will of the people."

"The House of Lords plays an important role in Britain's parliamentary democracy, scrutinizing legislation passed by the elected House of Commons. But critics have long argued that it is unwieldy and undemocratic. The chamber currently has more than 800 members, making it the second-largest legislative chamber in the world after China's National People's Congress."

"For most of its 700-year history, its membership was composed of noblemen—almost never women—who inherited their seats, alongside a smattering of bishops. In the 1950s, these were joined by 'life peers'—retired politicians, civic leaders and other notables appointed by the government, who now make up the vast majority of the chamber."

Parliament has voted to remove hereditary aristocrats from the unelected House of Lords, ending a centuries-old British tradition. The House of Lords, which scrutinizes legislation from the elected House of Commons, currently has over 800 members, making it the second-largest legislative chamber globally. Hereditary peers, who inherited their seats along with aristocratic titles, comprise roughly one in ten members. Government officials argue the change eliminates an archaic, undemocratic principle where merit should determine participation rather than inherited titles. The 1999 Labour government previously removed most hereditary peers but retained 92 temporarily. Recent scandals, including Peter Mandelson's resignation following revelations about his Epstein connection, renewed criticism of the chamber's democratic legitimacy.

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