Governments think they know what is best for their citizens a certainty based on a combination of factors, including being privy to a large amount of information that is not available to the public. Yet even democratically elected governments are not always immune from party political tactics.

That is why the House of Lords, far from being an out-of-date and out-of-touch institution, is more important now than ever especially in the run-up to a generalelection and withBrexit looming on the horizon.

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That is not to say that the unelected second chamber is perfect, and I am passionate about its reform.Id advocate for a number of changes, includingacap on the size of the chamber and a significant reduction in the number of peers appointed, as well as a ruthless weeding out of those who contribute little or nothing to proceedings.As indicated by theBurns Report, which also called for a smaller House of Lords,these passengers do little for the Lords reputation.

There should also bea proper and consistent vetting system in place to rule out overt appointments of party donors and a publicly available register of all party donations

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Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gestures as launches the party's election campaign in south London. Britain will go to the polls on December 12

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SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon joins Alyn Smith, the SNP's candidate for Stirling, at the Made in Stirling Store and Creative Hub, during the general election campaign trail

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Meerkats at Blair Drummond Safari Park, Stirling, investigate a carved pumpkin as the park celebrates national pumpkin day on Saturday October 26.

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Wales players celebrate after beating France in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Japan. Warren Gatlands side had to battle after Frances fast start but capitalised on their rivals ill discipline to squeeze into the semi-finals, 20-19

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People gather in London to join the Final Say march for a people's vote

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Protesters on Whitehall in London during an Extinction Rebellion climate change protest

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European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson shake hands during a news conference after agreeing on a Brexit deal, in Brussels

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Police officers carry away an activist as Extinction Rebellion protesters block a road with a caravan in central London

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Queen Elizabeth II sits with Prince Charles on the Sovereign's throne ahead of delivering the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament

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Richard Ratcliffe, husband of British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe jailed in Tehran since 2016, holds his daughter Gabriella during a news conference in London. Their five-year-old daughter has arrived back in Britain, after making the "bittersweet" decision to bring her home

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Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Thornton Manor. Their meeting focused on further Brexit proposals

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Protesters dubbed the Red Rebels at Millbank at the junction with Great College Street, during an Extinction Rebellion protest in Westminster

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Final preparations are made in front of a reproduction of Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgement', ahead of the opening of for the 'Michelangelo: A Different View' exhibition at Hull Minister

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A car drives through a flooded street in Whitley Bay in Northumberland

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Thousands took to the streets of Edinburgh today to march in support of a second Scottish independence referendum

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Police stands in front of the Treasury building during an Extinction Rebellion protest in London

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A road in Alum Rock, Birmingham is flooded after persistent heavy rain

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Two tourists pose for pictures in front of Union and EU flags outside the Houses of Parliament in London

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A sheep on London Bridge as Freemen of the City of London took up their historic entitlement to drive sheep over the bridge, which was once London's only river crossing

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An Aldabra giant tortoise is fed watermelon as a treat at the Malvern Autumn Show, at the Three Counties Showground near Malvern in Worcestershire

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Gallery assistants pose with an artwork entitled 'Devolved Parliament' by British artist Banksy, during a press view in London ahead of Sotheby's contemporary art sale, as part of the Frieze Art Fair

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England's Jonathan Joseph is tackled by United State's Marcel Brache during their group match at the Rugby World Cup in Japan. England scored seven tries on their way to winning 45-7

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Tributes for former Rangers player Fernando Ricksen at Ibrox Stadium. Today, the funeral procession will pass Ibrox Stadium before making the journey to Wellington Church

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A person dressed as a caricature of Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a prison uniform stands outside the Supreme Court after it ruled that his decision to suspend Parliament was illegal

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Fire performer Penella Bee performs before people take part in the North East Skinny Dip at Druridge Bay in Nothumberland, an annual event that marks the Autumn Equinox and raises money for MIND - the Mental Health Charity

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Protesters gather for a march and rally organised by "The People's Vote" in Brighton, to call for politicians to give the public a final say referendum on Brexit

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Protesters in London joined millions across world to demand urgent action to save planet in the largest environmental protest in history

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A surfer in action during sunrise at Tynemouth on the north east coast

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Protesters dressed as the Incredible Hulk and Robocop outside the Supreme Court in London where judges are due to consider legal challenges to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament. The Supreme Court will hear appeals over three days from two separate challenges to the prorogation of Parliament brought in England and Scotland

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Farmer Tom Hoggard harvests pumpkins at Howe Bridge Farm in Yorkshire, ahead of Halloween

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Team Europe celebrate winning the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in Auchterarder, Scotland. Europe won the last three singles matches to claim victory 14-13

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The House of Lords is needed to protect democracy now more than ever - The Independent