Time to stop the Tories Lording it

I agree with Keir Starmer’s proposal to replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber (Mirror, Nov 21).

It beggars belief this bloated and undemocratic body still has a bearing on the laws of the land.

When you watch debates on TV you often catch them dozing off, but they are entitled to claim a £332 day attendance allowance paid for by struggling taxpayers.

But Keir shouldn’t just stop at reform of the Lords.

He should also scrap the outdated first-past-the-post voting system which has delivered successive Tory governments and replace it with proportional representation, one person one vote.

Time to make the UK a democracy fit for the 21st century.

Steve Price, Oldham

I welcome Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to abolish the outdated House of Lords if Labour win the next General Election.

As the largest unelected parliamentary chamber outside China, it is a pointless and undemocratic institution dominated by Tory lackeys and donors. They claim £332 a day and receive other perks just for turning up and doing very little at taxpayers’ expense. A newly reformed upper chamber should be a properly elected system of ministers representing the four countries and also the United Kingdom’s counties and renamed: The House of Home Nations and Regions. Steve Goulding, Sheffield Sir Keir Starmer is absolutely right to say he wants to put a stop to Tory lackeys seeking seats in the House of Lords.

A reformed upper chamber with elected representatives would restore trust in Westminster.

At present the Lords is little more than a gravy train for a lot of unelected peers who are bleeding the hard-pressed taxpayers of this country dry.

Reg Barrett, Southminster, Essex

The House of Lords, for all its privilege, has in recent years managed to curtail the worst excesses of this Tory Government.

If it is replaced, what is to say an elected chamber would do a better job? Many of those who sit in the Lords are experts in their chosen fields and have a wealth of knowledge and experience.

With the present state of the country this isn’t a priority.

S Hall, St Leonards-on-Sea East Sussex

Labour would get my full support and vote if they abolish the House of Lords in their first term and replace it with an elected upper chamber of significantly fewer members than current numbers. But they should do this within the first year of winning an election, not defer it.

Guy Middlewood, York

Well done to Keir Starmer for saying a Labour government would abolish the House of Lords. I am sure millions would support this.

The Lords is stuffed full of Tory cronies who, it seems to me, do very little in return for their £300 plus a day attendance allowance.

I Jackson, Barnsley

I agree with Keir Starmer that it’s time to get rid of the House of Lords. At present they are taking their £332 a day allowance while doing very little for the working people of this country.

Reform is long overdue.

M Ridley, Whitley Bay

Tyne and Wear