PROTESTERS disrupted proceedings in the House of Lords today to demand the abolition of the unelected chamber.

They threw leaflets, shouted and sang from the public gallery during the demonstration at noon.

The House was adjourned for a short time as the demonstrators were escorted out.

Protester Lucy Porter, 50, a primary school teacher from Leeds, said she was “campaigning for a house of the people.”

On the Lords, she said: “It’s a symbol of everything that’s outdated.

“We don’t have a functioning democracy in this country.”

The leaflets, apparently modelled on an album by the Sex Pistols punk band, had written on them: “Never mind the Lords here’s the House of People.”

On the other side it stated: “Aristocrats and oligarchs: Out. Posties, mums, nurses and neighbours: In.

“Replace the House of Lords to save the UK.”

The protesters said they were acting on behalf of Assemble, an organisation that campaigns for the Lords to be abolished and replaced by a citizens’ assembly.

Citizens’ assemblies are selected by sortition, which means members of the public are picked at random via a lottery.

Supporters of this system argue it means a more representative sample of the population are able to come together and debate important issues.

Another demonstrator, who wished to be known only as Christina, said: “We did this action on behalf of Assemble and the ask is that, instead of a House of Lords, which is a house of unelected wealthy elites, we have a house of the people.

“So, we have citizens’ assemblies where people can participate in real democracy, instead of having everything handed to them from up high.”

As they were escorted out, the protesters sang a song encouraging people to “raise a glass to Thomas Paine.”

The English-born American founding father was a strong advocate of democracy and rejected monarchy and aristocracy.

In a statement, the House of Lords said: “We are aware of an incident in the public gallery, after which the House briefly adjourned but has now resumed. We will not be commenting further at this time.”

Protests by the public in the Lords are prohibited.

The protest came amid moves at Westminster to reform the Lords by ousting hereditary peers.

The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, which has already been through the Commons, will abolish the 92 seats reserved for members of the upper chamber who are there by right of birth.