The House of Lords was thrown into “chaos” after democracy campaigners started chanting and throwing leaflets into the debating chamber.
Stunned peers looked on as the protesters shouted “Lords out, people in” during a debate on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2.
Proceedings had to be abandoned for several minutes until the campaigners, from the group Assemble, were removed.
Deputy Lords speaker Viscount Colville could be heard saying: “The house will adjourn for five minutes while this chaos calms down.”
Labour whip Baroness Twycross was speaking when the protest began.
On one side, the protesters’ leaflets said: “Never mind the Lords here’s the House of People.”
On the other side it stated: “Aristocrats and oligarchs: Out.
“Posties, mums, nurses and neighbours: In.
“Replace the House of Lords to save the UK.”
One of the protesters, 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On the Lords, she said: “It’s a symbol of everything that’s outdated.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.”
In a statement, Assemble said: “Today’s action has been taken in support of the abolition of the House of Lords in favour of a House of the People – a new institution where any adult in the UK may be selected to serve, like a jury, to set the political agenda and balance the House of Commons.
“This action mirrors one undertaken by suffragettes on October 28, 1908, where they took direct action by raining handbills onto the House of Commons, demanding suffrage for women in the UK.
“A public-led institution like a House of the People will produce fairer, more effective, and more democratic outcomes than the existing parliamentary system, which is not fit for purpose.”
Another 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.”