Baroness Smith of Llanfaes’ maiden speech to the House of Lords may have been the very first to suggest abolishing it. “I do not believe that an unelected upper chamber has a place in a modern democratic society,” she told assembled peers, wearing fake fur robes. She added: “My Lords, I am young, I am a woman, and I am from Wales. Your Lordships know well that is not the norm in this place.” The youngest of seven kids, who grew up on a Welsh council estate on Ynys Mon – the island of Anglesey –