Is it finally time to abolish the Lords?
AT A time when the Government seeks ways to save cash, surely closing down the House of Lords would be a welcome measure.
Packed with mainly old codgers enjoying a freebie and a comfortable spot to nap while being paid, it is well past its sell-by date.
When the Safety of Rwanda Bill was presented there, one old Lord who was still awake cried: ‘Shame!’
These outdated pals of politicians should really be at home, sipping their port or brandy and reading The Times, not interfering with the will of the people. Off with their robes.
paul MarSton, Walsall, W. Mids. THIS country likes to boast that we brought democracy to the whole world. Really?
How can we call ourselves democratic while so many entitled, out-of-touch, unelected people can overrule laws being made by our elected politicians. With the nation facing critical decisions, some of those making them are there only because their father and grandfather had the same privileges. Others on the red benches are there for favours rendered or because they made political donations. Frankly, the whole House of Lords circus should be abolished.
ken SeaGer, bradwell, norfolk. AT THE next general election, we need a referendum on abolishing the House of Lords and replacing it with an elected Upper House.
patriCk Cullen, Whitstable, kent. THE Commons, whose members are all elected, puts forward a new law, only for it to go before the unelected
peers. If it passes that hurdle, it may ultimately be debated by unelected judges in the Supreme Court. This judge-led law is undemocratic. Gerry CartWriGHt, redditch, Worcs. ONCE again, it looks as if a collection of unelected toffs will go against the will of the people.
Now is the time, while they still have a majority, for the Conservatives to put forward a Bill to abolish the Lords. Labour has, in the recent past, claimed it wants to remove them, so if a Bill were put forward now, we would see whether the party was serious.
The second house should, in any case,
be no larger than the elected house. To that end, I would suggest that any member of the Lords who is over 80 or has served 25 years, whichever comes first, should stand down, until the Chambers are of equal size.
n. Dixon, ellesmere port, Cheshire. THE House of Lords ran out of steam hundreds of years ago. Free the doddering fools and disband it.
CHriS SHarp, leeds. THE House of Lords must not defy the will of the people, says Rishi Sunak. Only the Commons can do that, eh?
alan JaCobS, biddenham, beds.