Peer pressure

LORD Fowler, the Speaker of the House of Lords, has accepted there are too many peers in the Upper Chamber. But while condemning what he calls ‘faffing around’, he hasn’t come up with an answer.

Let me suggest a solution: natural wastage. There must be an embargo on appointments until the Grim Reaper arranges that the number of peers are equal to the number of seats in the chamber. This shouldn’t take too long, in view of the age of the incumbents.

Then, a new class of peer should be created so Prime Ministers can continue to reward their cronies and solicit contributions to party funds.

These new peerages would be in name only and would not entitle the holders to enter the Palace of Westminster, vote or claim expenses.

P. b. HAYWArD, rochester, Kent.