Re: Andrea Leadsom...
"It does seem like a mistake to hand so much power to people whose only qualification is "My daddy was a lord that didn't pull out""
It is many years since the House of Lords was purged of many of the inherited positions. The vast majority are Life Peers (683). While some were political rewards - others could be considered experts in their non-political field. Even political appointees have often chosen to become cross-benchers - so as to follow their consciences rather than their previous party's line.
There are now very few hereditary peers (89). The vacancies in their ranks are filled by voting by the House of Lords. That ensures that those with some real-world competence can be selected.
The remaining positions are the mandatory Anglican bishops (26).
http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/composition-of-the-lords/
Biting the hand that feeds IT
