![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4969843.jpg?r=1695239268603\")
<\/p>\n
13 Lords put their names forward, with Lord Meston and Lord De Clifford being elected with 11 and five votes respectively.<\/p>\n
In his personal manifesto, Lord Meston detailed that he had been active in the House of Lords until being booted out by Tony Blair in 1999.<\/p>\n
He pledged to \u201ccommit fully to involvement in the Lords\u201d and said he believes \u201cstrongly in effective scrutiny of legislation and the value of Crossbench independence and objectivity\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lord De Clifford said he aspires “to be a committed independent, and effective member of the house\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have an open mindset and the ability to listen, evaluate and understand thus bringing a broad perspective to the workings of the House\u201d.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n The positions will entitle them to \u00a3323 every day they turn up for work.<\/p>\n The Electoral Reform Society has said the election \u201cthrows into stark relief the ongoing absurdity of the current House of Lords\u201d.<\/p>\n Senior Director Willie Sullivan said: \u201cTwo men have effectively each been given a life-long job voting in parliament and affecting our laws due to the circumstances of their birth. These sham by-elections are merely a fig leaf covering an undemocratic and antiquated system not fit for a 21st-century democracy.<\/p>\n \u201cThis underlines the urgent case for reforming the Lords and replacing it with a smaller, truly elected upper chamber, where the people of this country – not small bands of aristocrats – decide who shape the laws we all live under.\u201d<\/p>\n Tory constitutional expert Lord Norton has previously called for the by-election to come to an end, allowing the number of hereditary peers to slowly reduce.<\/p>\n Sir Keir Starmer has already vowed to abolish hereditary peers should he win the next General Election, and finish what Tony Blair started.<\/p>\n
Labour pledges to reintroduce 2030 petrol car ban if they win general election[LATEST] <\/strong>
Sunak hits back at Tory rebels in net zero row and outlines green plans[LATEST] <\/strong>
Rishi Sunak faces losing 1 in 3 of his own constituents with petrol car ban[EXCLUSIVE] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4969845.jpg?r=1695239268682\")
<\/p>\n