Walter Bagehot: “They have no constituency to fear or wheedle; they have the best means…”

On the record

They have no constituency to fear or wheedle; they have the best means of forming a disinterested and cool judgment of any class in the country.

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Walter Bagehot

Source

Bagehot highlights the unique position of the Lords, who can make unbiased judgments due to their lack of electoral pressures.

More from Walter Bagehot

It is absurd to choose by contested party election an impartial chooser of Ministers.

They are solely concerned with his attractiveness as a candidate; they need not regard his efficiency as a ruler.

The whole history of civilisation, is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.

Perhaps such powers as these are what a wise man would most seek to exercise and least fear to possess.

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Walter Bagehot: “They have no constituency to fear or wheedle; they have the best means of forming a disinterested and cool judgment of…”