House of Lords

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In UK's House of Lords, Out With the 'Hereditaries'

After 700 years, Parliament votes to boot hereditary aristocrats from the unelected body

(Newser) - Centuries of British political tradition will end within weeks after Parliament voted to remove hereditary aristocrats from the unelected House of Lords. On Tuesday, upper chamber members dropped objections to legislation passed by the elected House of Commons ousting dozens of dukes, earls, and viscounts who inherited seats in Parliament...

British Lord Resigns as Cops Probe Epstein Emails

Peter Mandelson, former ambassador to the US, may have shared insider information

(Newser) - British police on Tuesday opened a criminal investigation into politician Peter Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office related to his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The UK government says newly released Epstein files suggest Mandelson—a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labour...

Lord Quits British Government Because He Was Tardy

Government refused to accept Lord Bates' resignation

(Newser) - Britain's Lord Bates is clearly a man who values punctuality: After arriving a few minutes late for a session in the House of Lords on Wednesday, the lawmaker declared that he was "thoroughly ashamed"—and resigned on the spot. Bates, a minister at the Department for International...

British Lord Guilty of Expenses Scam

Peer faces jail time for fake travel expenses

(Newser) - A member of Britain's House of Lords could be facing time in the jailhouse for fiddling his expenses to swindle taxpayers out of $18,000. A jury found Lord Taylor of Warwick—who lied about having a residence outside of London in order to claim travel expenses—guilty of false...

UK's Ex-Chief Justice Rips Into Iraq Invasion

Newly retired judge lambastes US, UK as 'vigilantes'

(Newser) - One of Britain's most respected judges struck out last night against the invasion of Iraq, which he declared illegal and worthy of a "world vigilante." Thomas Bingham, who held the UK's equivalent post to chief justice, used his first speech since retirement to decry "a serious...

House of Lords Fishes Where the Fish Are: YouTube

UK legislators launch effort to appeal to youth

(Newser) - The House of Lords is vaulting into the 21st century, hosting a YouTube channel dedicated to dispelling its upper-crust image. The appointed branch of Parliament rolled out several videos today, full of legislators explaining to clueless young people how the system works, the AP reports. "We hope that they...

Separated at Birth, Twins Marry
Separated at Birth, Twins Marry
Jan 11, 2008 11:35 AM CST

Separated at Birth, Twins Marry

British court annuls incestuous union

(Newser) - A British court has annulled the marriage of a couple who learned they were twins separated at birth, the Telegraph reports. Their identities and the specifics of their romance remain secret, but a member of the House of Lords who have access to the details said the siblings had felt...

Press Baron Stays Out of Prison
Press Baron Stays Out
of Prison
Jul 20, 2007 5:27 AM CDT

Press Baron Stays Out of Prison

Lord Black free on bail until sentencing

(Newser) - Press baron Conrad Black will remain free on $21-million in bail until his sentencing for three counts of fraud and one of obstructing justice. Prosecutors fear that if he's out on bail he'll flee to Canada because he's facing 30 years in prison, he's rich, and he hasn't shown respect...

BP Chief Resigns Over Lies On Gay Lover

CEO met 27-year-old on gay fetish site, not a walk in the park

(Newser) - The chief executive of U.K. energy giant BP stepped down unexpectedly today, after a court ruled he had lied about details of his relationship with a 27-year-old man, and the House of Lords decided he couldn't keep a tabloid from printing them. Lord Browne of Madingley lavished the student...

British Peers Could Lose Their Perch

House of Commons wants counterpart Lords to be elected

(Newser) - British peers took it on the chin last night as their confrères in the House of Commons voted to make the House of Lords 100 percent elected, ending the rights of title-holders to inherit their seats. If a larger reform plan passes, the Lords could find elected members in...

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