Dispute with Cameron opens new challenge to Britain's House of Lords

London

UNELECTED, overcrowded and with an age profile similar to many retirement homes, Britain's House of Lords nevertheless has a gift for surviving, and recently shrugged off the resignation of one senior member who was caught snorting cocaine with a prostitute.

But the chamber may now be facing an altogether bigger challenge to its power, after confronting Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative government this week and derailing planned budget cuts that opponents say unfairly target the poor.

On Tuesday, Mr Cameron's office announced a review of the powers of the House of Lords, to try to ensure that there is no repeat of two votes on Monday when the chamber voted to delay the social welfare reductions. Although the Conservati…