Three people have jumped barriers in the house of lords to access the king’s throne and the chairs of state. They planned to announce the release of The People’s Charter – a new democratic mandate for the UK.

Replace the lords

Touring the house of lords chamber at 9:30am on 19 December, they climbed a barrier to take their place around the king’s throne. They unfurled a banner that read: ‘REPLACE THE LORDS’. Almost immediately they were intercepted by Metropolitan Police officers stationed in the room, and parliamentary security guards. They were removed, detained, and questioned on site before being released without arrest.

The three took this action to signal the failure of UK democracy, while highlighting the most popular alternative to the house of lords: a permanent Citizen’s Assembly.

Rayal, from London, is one of those who took action today. He said:

After taking part in the creation of the People’s Charter, I am inspired to share the idea with the people! They hold the power, not the lords!

The People’s Charter is the comprehensive outcome from the House of the People’s first sitting. The House of the People is a new grassroots institution which is modelling the proposed replacement to the house of lords. The first sitting was organised by Assemble, a grassroots democracy group. Another sitting will take place in 2026.

The House of the People

The House of the People sat for 3 days in July 2025, as a brand new institution for the UK. It invited the public to participate via in an open ‘lottery’, which welcomed people from all backgrounds and regions. Those selected carefully considered the evidence and reached decisions on the biggest issues of our time, including the UK’s approach to the climate crisis, genocide, and poverty.

The People’s Charter from the House of the People is available to read for free, and a public Zoom call is happening on Monday 22 December to discuss it. [Register here to join]

The top 5 outcomes in the People’s Charter are:

1. Tax wealth not work

Close loopholes for the ultra-rich: fix investment income, pensions perks and banking services to raise £40 billion a year and fund our future.

2. Slash political corruption

Ban lobbying, ban second jobs, ban political gifts – politics exists to serve people, not companies.

3. Choose life over GDP

Establish a Future Generations act – a law above all laws – to put people and nature above gross domestic product.

4. End support for genocide

Stop all arms, trade and state support to any country violating international law – starting with an immediate embargo on Israel.

5. Reclaim our spaces

Take homes out of the hands of those who buy them but never live in them – bring empty buildings into public use, cap rents and build green, affordable council housing.

Fairer and more democratic

A spokesperson for the group said this today:

This is not a protest against the monarchy. The king has a symbolic role in government. But the lords have real power, and they’re corrupt as hell. It’s time to replace them with a fair and democratic Citizen’s Assembly.

A public-led institution like a House of the People will produce fairer, more effective, and more democratic outcomes than the existing parliamentary system, which is not fit for purpose.

The recent election saw the lowest turnout and vote count for two decades. But it produced a prime minister with the strongest majority.

Polls show that most British people are in favour of replacing the house of lords. And a permanent rolling citizens’ assembly is the favourite alternative.

Featured image via Assemble

By The Canary

This post was originally published on Canary.