The House of Lords is the British Outer Mongolia for retired politicians

The House of Lords is the British Outer Mongolia for retired politicians

Tony Benn, a prominent British politician known for his left-wing views and advocacy for social justice, was a vocal critic of the House of Lords throughout his career. He famously referred to the House of Lords as the "British Outer Mongolia for retired politicians," highlighting his disdain for the unelected upper chamber of Parliament.

Benn's criticism of the House of Lords stemmed from his belief in democracy and the need for elected representatives to make decisions on behalf of the people. He saw the House of Lords as an outdated institution that was out of touch with the realities of modern society and unaccountable to the public. In Benn's view, the House of Lords was a place where retired politicians and other elites could enjoy a comfortable lifestyle without having to face the scrutiny of voters.

Benn's comparison of the House of Lords to Outer Mongolia was not just a clever quip, but a pointed critique of the lack of transparency and accountability in the upper chamber. Outer Mongolia, a remote and sparsely populated country, was seen as a metaphor for the isolation and detachment of the House of Lords from the everyday concerns of the British people.

Throughout his political career, Benn campaigned for the abolition of the House of Lords and its replacement with a fully elected second chamber. He argued that the current system of appointing members to the House of Lords based on hereditary titles, political connections, or personal wealth was undemocratic and unjust. Benn believed that all lawmakers should be accountable to the electorate and that the House of Lords was an affront to the principles of democracy.