[joeysteele]

They can hold up legislation and also suggest amendments, however if a govt has an overall majority and is a govt like this one,that refuses to listen to anyone with real arguments against their rotten policies then they can overturn the defeats in the Commons.

Often govts will take on board the Lords views and look seriously at amendments from them but sadly not this one,no way.
The Lords can really in effect then only delay the process of legislation when they are also, indeed like everyone else ignored by an authoritarian govt. hell bent on not listening to anyone or any other body whatsoever.

Of course if 'all' the Conservative MPs who think this plan wrong,(and there are many), were to actually follow their consciences and vote against it when it next comes up again, then the vile Ian Duncan Smith would be well and truly thwarted and the Lords win the day.