Before I was appointed to the House of Lords, I was very clear that there was no place for hereditary peers. For me, they illustrated parliament's stuffy feudal roots and provided a reminder of how the UK is still struggling to emerge from a past where a select group of people... were born to rule.
...the application of some those known for their hard work and expertise in various areas has surprised me. While a few are huge landowners, the hereditary peers also include actors, computer technicians and an artist.
One crucial example of the value of individual hereditary peers was over the issue of sewage. As a house, we lords have limited powers, but sometimes we put our collective foot down and force the government to really listen.
Interestingly, after I was appointed in 2013, I found that while some people are listened to more than others... it's often because they usually have something worthwhile, or funny, to say.
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