Shake up the Lords

THE EU referendum was not about trade or the future relationship with the EU. It was about who we wished to govern us, and we the people decided it should not be the EU.

That is democracy working. Perhaps it is time for the second chamber to be put through a similar process.

While it may be appropriate for party leaders to appoint members to the chamber, the people should have the ability to remove those we feel are not representing our views.

This could be in the form of a ballot every four years in which the 5 per cent that receive the most negative votes are removed.

PAUL TATHAM, Maidenhead, Berks.

THE House of Lords has voted against Brexit and so has shown itself to be authoritarian and anti-democratic.

When they were all hereditary lords, it was fine to have such a revising chamber because they would make sure they handed on a good country to their son and heir. But this lot are just appointees and political chums.

Can’t we return to something similar to King Alfred the Great’s Council, the Witenagemot or Meeting of Wise Men?

A modern version would have representatives of the law, medicine, media, unions and other professions appointed for five or ten years on a basic salary plus expenses.

Their focus would then be directed towards their own people and their country, not their pockets.

SONYA PORTER, Woking, Surrey.

WE HAVE hundreds of unelected old men and women, many of them placemen and few of whom appear to do anything for the £300 per day they can claim in expenses.

But it appears that being a member of the dining and wining club that is the House of Lords means you’re allowed to attack the Government.

PETER GODFREY, Hemel Hempstead, Herts.