Tom Nicholas
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Video: The Lords: Why Britain isn't a Democracy
🕑 Added 2025-02-11 16:22:47 +0000 UTCHello Everybody!
Those of you in the Early Access tiers, or who subscribe to Nebula, will have already seen it. But, those who aren't, here is my latest video.
It's about the House of Lords: the unelected "upper chamber" of the UK Parliament.
I wanted to ask why, in an era in which we supposedly value democracy and voting so much, the UK has held onto a system which is defiantly technocratic.
Can we justify over half of our national politicians being there as a result of their political connections, religious affiliation, or even parents? Are there benefits to politicians not having to be elected? Or has the time come to replace this (to some) archaic institution with a modern, elected second chamber?
Better than just pondering it at my desk, I got in touch with the House of Lords and managed to blag my way inside, to speak with four people who sit in it: one Baron, an Earl, and two Baronesses.
Let me know what you think in the comments! And thanks as ever for your generous support—making videos like this involves a lot of time and travel and hotel stays which really adds up, so your support here on Patreon really does help to make it all possible!
Thanks!
Tom
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Comments
Charlotte KL
(Woops, the above comment somehow got posted twice. Sorry about that.) I'm one of the majority of people who think getting rid of hereditary peers fixes nothing. That makes it exclusively the gravy train for the PM's cronies, not an improvement. If you want to have an unelected House, it needs to be limited to a single term of a few years and probably chosen at random from the whole population.
Charlotte KL
Ok, and now I *have* watched the video! It's one of your best, I think. It was great that you managed to get a look behind the scenes and talk to so many insiders. Great work! Having previously lived in the UK, I knew about all the basic mechanisms to do with the HoL, but I still learned a lot. Honestly, the fact that it seemed like a good idea to just let the prime minister appoint their best pals - or the people who gave them lots of money - and that that was considered more democratic, *just a few decades ago* is wild!
Charlotte KL
Hey Tom, I haven't had time to watch this newest video yet, but I just saw the little bonus Boomers video, which was great! I am so happy you put your mum in the film, those were honestly my favourite parts of Boomers! I hadn't even really thought about how Biden dropping out was a bummer for the film, but ultimately he's not even a boomer and the boomers are still everywhere. And the film is great because it's not just about the politicians anyway.
