Sagacity on Saturday : Dragging the Westminster parliament kicking and screaming into the 19th Century

"The Honourable Gentleman keeps referring to 19th Century practices in this place. Does he not think that that is a bit unfair? I cannot remember anything quite as modern as the 19th Century here."

SNP leader Alex Salmond, speaking with a slight touch of sarcasm in a House of Commons debate in 1998.  To be fair, since then there have been major modernising reforms, such as...er...well, the Speaker no longer wears court robes.  At this rate of progress, I confidently predict that hereditary peers will have been abolished by the 53rd Century.