Is the House of Lords just the best daycare centre for the old folk of Westminster that exists?

Outdated pompous bunch of farts...round them up..stick them in a field...and blow the bastards up

Hi No it is a stop gap against so many idiots getting things passed as law.

It needs pruning but sometimes the level of debate is so much better than the "lobby fodder" in the commons it is unreal !!

last year they debated the assistant dying bill, the standard was high and manmy good points for both sides wher emade, it made the commons look like a "playgroup" !! https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/18/as...

It is the ethic group against populism and defenders of capitalists.

There is a series on the H of L running on BBC2, started last night, which some might benefit from watching.

They're there to examine and debate proposals put forward by Govt. They can suggest or advise amendments but they cannot over rule policy, as they're not the elected Govt. The House of Lords is one of the checks and balances of our system. Based on their collective wisdom and individual knowledge in certain areas, they give advice. The Govt doesn't have to take it. There have been abuses where certain lords don't attend and claim expenses. There's also ongoing debate as to the representative make up and how those Lords are elected. The chamber should reflect the country at large and not by any fate of birth - Lords reform. All in all it's a necessary component of our system that needs tweaking.

Absolutely.

And the plus, they get PAID EXPENSES. Just for showing up.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/datablog/2010...

Few years ago they hit the headlines. For clocking in, to collect the expenses on offer, than departing post haste, to spend that lolly.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservat...

"There is a lack of transparency, no evidence even whether these people stay around once they have signed for their money."

They get paid for sleeping on the job.

ID10T.