Five key takeaways from the Guardian’s House of Lords series

Two peers are now under investigation after undercover reporting on members of parliament’s second chamber
“Indefensible” was how Keir Starmer described the House of Lords three years ago when he proposed ambitious changes that would replace it with an elected second chamber drawn from the nations and the regions.
Now in power, Labour’s plans are somewhat watered down, and even the first step, abolishing hereditary peers, is being challenged.
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Revealed: House of Lords members have given £109m to political parties
Conservatives benefit most from donations provided either before or after peers secured their seats. Cash before honours: the Tory donors made peers who barely speak in Lords . Peers who sat ...The Guardian - 5d -
Labour’s cautionary tale: how hereditary peers clung on for 26 years
Delay in removing hereditaries from Lords illustrates how hard it will be to push through more significant changes. The only solid measure that Keir Starmer’s government has introduced to change ...The Guardian - 1d -
Foreign states including repressive regimes pay peers over £3m in two years
Middle East nations among those to have paid 27 members of Lords for work such as consultancy and legal advice. Philip Hammond has made millions from 30 roles while member of Lords Members of ...The Guardian - 5d -
Former Bristol MP takes seat in House of Lords
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Keir Starmer’s poll ratings leap after Trump withdraws support for Ukraine
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The Guardian view on Trump and Ukraine: respite is possible, but resolution looks distant | Editorial
Will-they-won’t-they over a ceasefire does not change the underlying dynamics of US retreat from supporting Kyiv . A three-year conflict has taken bewildering, lurching turns in under a fortnight. ...The Guardian - 1d -
After 80 years of transatlantic ties, Europe forges a new alliance
Germany, France and UK sweep away old rules in pledge to do ‘whatever it takes’ to defend Europe from Russian threat. When he rose to his feet at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Keir ...The Guardian - 6d -
Top House Democrats press Senate colleagues to sink GOP spending bill
The top House Democrats are pressing their fellow party members in the Senate to kill the Republicans’ spending bill when it reaches the upper chamber, saying the proposal will hurt Americans ...The Hill - 3d -
House Democrats hold annual retreat under specters of shutdown and Trump
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Russia-Ukraine war live: Keir Starmer holds press conference after summit on Ukraine peace proposals
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Tensions mount in Serbia as protesters converge on Belgrade
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Notable Tesla investor says he hopes Musk’s government role is ‘short-lived’
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‘Spreadsheets of empire’: red tape goes back 4,000 years, say scientists after Iraq finds
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Russian ship captain charged with manslaughter appears at Hull court
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