Throne Out

Britain’s saying “cheerio” to Parliament’s last hereditary members.

The U.K.’s legislature is made up of two Houses: Commons, consisting of elected lawmakers, and Lords, consisting of unelected (appointed/entitled/inherited) law reviewers (read more here). 

On Tuesday, Parliament voted to abolish the 92 House of Lords seats still held simply by birthright, fulfilling the current government’s promise that “no one should sit in our parliament by way of an inherited title.” The move finishes a 1999 reform, which evicted most hereditary peers but left 92 as a temporary compromise.

Some conservatives lamented the close of the 700-year-old chapter, saying many hereditary nobles “served their nation faithfully” over the centuries. But not all hereditaries are out; 15 will be offered life peerages (think: same seat, fresh paperwork), the sweetener that helped secure Tuesday’s vote.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Whether the goings-on of foreign governments are intriguing or of little interest to you, Christians’ ultimate allegiance is not to any earthly government. We are citizens of a heavenly kingdom with an always-trustworthy heavenly King. 

“Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself. So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.” 
Philippians 3:20-4:1 (CSB) (read full passage)