Peers go to polls in hereditary by-election

It’s by-election day in Parliament. No, not another chance for voters to give Boris Johnson a bloody nose over ‘partygate’; but rather the opportunity for one of Britain’s blue-blooded families to take their place in the Upper House. For this contest is fought in the Lords, not the Commons, with votes limited to Tory peers choosing amongst themselves which of them should take Matt Ridley’s seat, following his retirement from the chamber in December. Ridley was one of 42 hereditary peers elected by the Conservative hereditary peers, as part of the total 92 agreed as a compromise by Tony Blair in 1999.

Voting is taking place on the parliamentary estate until 5 p.m today, with Steerpike’s spies telling him this contest is one of the more keenly-fought in recent years. Results will be declared tomorrow, with just 46 men (and they are all men!) eligible to vote, in what has been dubbed ‘the world’s most exclusive electorate.’