The House of Lords was thrown into chaos this afternoon when protesters began shouting and throwing leaflets from the public viewing gallery. Labour peer Baroness Twycross was debating the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ day, when shouts were heard from the gallery.

Protesters could be heard shouting "Lords out, people in", and began throwing leaflets down into the chamber. The debate was adjourned while they were escorted out. The incident has been claimed as the work of Assemble, a hard-left anti-parliament group.

The protesters said they were acting on behalf of Assemble, an organisation that campaigns for the House of Lords to be abolished and replaced by a citizens' assembly.

Citizens' assemblies are selected by sortition, which means members of the public are picked at random via a lottery.

Supporters of this mechanism argue it means a more representative sample of the population are able to come together and debate important issues.

One protester, who wished to be known only as Christina, said: "We did this action on behalf of Assemble and the ask is that, instead of a House of Lords, which is a house of unelected wealthy elites, we have a house of the people.

"So, we have citizens' assemblies where people can participate in real democracy, instead of having everything handed to them from up high."

Another woman, who also referred to herself as Christina, said: "If people enter into assemblies and a house of the people via sortition, that's real representation where people get a say on real issues that matter to them, which are not getting processed by the Government or Parliament.

"The cost-of-living crisis, the housing crisis, the climate crisis, it's a mess, and we need people with real representation to start making a difference and having a say."

Protester Lucy Porter, 50, a primary school teacher from Leeds, told the PA news agency she was "campaigning for a house of the people".

On the Lords, she said: "It's a symbol of everything that's outdated.

"We don't have a functioning democracy in this country."

A House of Lords spokesman said: "We are aware of an incident in the public gallery, after which the House briefly adjourned but has now resumed. We will not be commenting further at this time."