If Britain needs cuts, let’s start with the Lords!
David Cameron should not see the Government’s defeat in the House of Lords over the tax-credits issue as a setback – he should see it as an opportunity. The House of Lords is far too large and costly, and has been in need of reform for a long time. We need constitutional change to ensure that the unelected chamber does not control policy and we need a slimmed-down version that will save millions of pounds. The Government is trying to reduce spending: what better place to start than the Lords?
Mick Ferrie, Mawnan Smith, Cornwall I am not a Tory or a Labour supporter, but I do remember the financial mess that Labour left after their last term in power, and I believe George Osborne is doing his best to correct this. A lot of money could be saved by reducing the Upper House – I think a maximum of 12 people could do the job needed. These days the House of Lords is well past its sell-by date.
Selwyn Cuff, Bovey Tracey, Devon For any democratic system to work you need to have effective checks and balances. This is the role of the Lords. The Government’s policy of cutting tax credits is hugely controversial, even among Conservative MPs, so the Lords should be able to decide whether they deem it to be in the national interest. The Government may not like the Upper Chamber exercising their legitimacy, but in democracy not everyone will agree with what you say.
I trust the democratic structure in our political system will show itself to be valuable in killing off this Bill, and make the Government rethink its proposals. We can only live in hope.
Oliver Steward, Norwich With an improving economy, tax credits should be unnecessary, as there is more full-time work around. As long as tax credits are available, it is human nature that people will choose to work the minimum hours and collect their tax credits for the time not worked.
G. Bushell, Barrow-in-Furness The tax-credit reforms would apparently save about £4.5billion a year, but would adversely affect a lot of poorly paid workers. We might ask how else we could save such an amount. Currently we spend less per head on healthcare than Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Ireland, yet we plan to spend £45.1billion on defence next year – more than any other EU state. It must now be relevant to question whether we have the right priorities.
Mervyn Williams, Huddersfield