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
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Labour’s cautionary tale: how hereditary peers clung on for 26 years
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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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