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sUMMER200918PowerPrivilegeandInuencePowerPrivilegeInfluenceStilllordingitHowcredibleisalawmakinginstitutionifitsmembersarenotfullyrepresentativeofthesocietyitclaimstoprotectAshokViswanathanandDeidreForbestakeaviewTheHouseox1cLordsbeganlix1ceinthe13thcenturyastheKingsCouncilmadeupox1cbaronscourtiersandbishops.Throughprivilegelandandwealththeyhadtheearox1ctheMonarch.Itisarguedthatuptothemid19thcenturytheLordswasthehighestdecision-makingbodyintheUK.Sincethenitslegislativepowershavebeensupersededbythoseox1ctheHouseox1cCommons.Itseemsincongruousthatanunelectedandarchaicchambercouldnowinthe21stcenturybemoreinchimewiththepublicmoodthanthedirectlyelectedandaccountableHouseox1cCommons.InrecentyearstheLordshasdemonstratedawillingnesstoopposegovernmentplansthaterodethex1cundamentallegalandcivilrightsox1cequalitylibertyandx1creedom.RecentproposalsblockedbytheHouseincludethe42-daydetentionandtheintroductionox1cidentitycards.Althoughthepowerox1ctheHouseox1cLordshasbeenseverelycurtailedbygovernmentrex1cormitcontinuestobeanimportantinstitution.Thisiswhyitisvitalthatitisrepresentativeanditsmembersrex1ectthemake-upox1ctheUK.Currentlyjustoverthreepercentox1ctheLordsarex1cromaminority-ethnicbackground.Ix1cParliamentistox1cormbetterlegislationandencourageahigherdegreeox1cpublicconfdenceinthedemocraticprocessthentheHouseox1cLordstooneedstorex1ectthesocietyweliveintoday.LordLearyConstantinetheTrinidadian-BritishcricketerandbroadcastjournalistbecamethefrstAx18ricanCaribbeanmemberox18theLordsin1969.Ax18terretirementx18romthesporthereturnedtoTrinidadandTobagowherehebecameinvolvedinpolitics.HeservedasagovernmentMinisterandhiscountryx19sfrstHighCommissionerinLondon.Hewasawardedaknighthoodin1962andbecameanHonoraryBencherox18theMiddleTemplethex18ollowingyear.BaronessShreelaFlatherox18WindsorandMaidenheadwasthefrstAsianwomantoreceiveapeeragein1990.SheisaConservativepeer.FirstHonoursPhotocourtesyofTerryMooreParliamentarycopyright