The House of Lords is absurdity manifest

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Its utility lies in the necessary arrangement of a second reviewing and revisionary chamber, but not in its composition (Parliament TV)

Sean O’Grady in his piece on the value of the House of Lords to the democratic process is, in my opinion, a little wide of the mark. A second chamber is an essential element of the constitution as he correctly states; a valuable characteristic of many democracies. However the Lords, like the monarchy, is anachronistic and undemocratically constituted, a remnant of feudal times patched and plastered to preserve its unwarranted existence. A prime example of “us and them” politics.

If one were to create a modern democracy from scratch, with a clear need for a second chamber, I doubt very much that one would do so by recruiting from a historic aristocracy, or by appointment by the ruling party in the first chamber. We have some grim examples of the latter in recent times. Appointments frequently appear to be based on the principle of a reward for “services” or for quite literally funding a political party. The Tory party, in particular, has specialised in further bloating an already unwieldy chamber.

And as reported: “Baroness Angela Smith, Labour leader in the Lords, says that they’ll create many more Labour peers because it would be ‘essential’ for Keir Starmer’s administration to get its legislation through.” The nonsense carries on.

O’Grady observes of the Lords “It’s an absurdity; but a useful one.” Its absurdity is manifest. Its utility lies in the necessary constitutional arrangement of a second reviewing and revisionary chamber – not in its composition. As it stands, it is a flawed compromise of our unwritten “gentleman’s club” constitution.

An elected second chamber is a necessity. Proportional representation is necessary to determine its composition. Those existing members of the Lords who feel driven by public service could, if they so wish, stand for election to a significantly smaller and more powerful chamber. It might well prove more efficient in dealing with the ineffectual extravagance of such matters as the Rwanda policy in both parliamentary time and public money.

David Nelmes

Newport

The Tories are doing Labour a power of good

It appears to me, and maybe many others, that the Conservative Party is in deep trouble and imploding itself. By comparison the Labour Party, for all its faults, is not as fragmented or intent on self-annihilation.

There is yet another facet within the Conservative Party, “PopCon” headed up by Liz Truss which, when added to all the other factions, endorses the view that there is little, if any, cohesion within the party’s ranks.

How Rishi Sunak and his election team think they can compete in the next election without a tangible consensus within the party to present to the electorate is maddening. There must be at least five or six competing factions now within the party, all pulling in different directions.

It obviously makes a mockery of any proposals Sunak may espouse when offering his party to govern Britain. It seems that the Tory party has morphed into a disparate lobbying group of disaffected MPs. Rather than having firm convictions for running the country as a group, they have various leaders vying for attention and promoting their ideas of what the people deserve.

So carry on Tories, you’re doing Labour a power of good. There is no way back for Sunak’s party, the country is sick and tired of the uncaring, divisive, deceitful and incompetent Tory governance.

Keith Poole

Basingstoke

Don’t just smell the coffee

I read The Independent’s recent article, I must admit, with a wry grin at the kamikaze actions of Simon Clarke. What political planet is he on, that thinks the public will put up with another leadership vanity contest, so soon before an election? This now ungovernable, factionalised party needs to drink the coffee, never mind smell it.

Of course being a Labour supporter all power to their manoeuvres, but it is shameful to witness this shambolic behaviour in a government and party. I never thought I would ever agree with Priti Patel but she is right: the public are sick and tired of wannabe leadership candidates and their self-indulgence is indeed appalling. Labour’s mantra is now ringing so true: “Country first, then party”. But the Conservatives have their ears firmly closed to that one.

Judith A Daniels

Norfolk

Silence speaks a thousand words

So, no sooner than Sunak and Michael Gove give in to 40 Tory MPs including Karl McCartney and Ben Bradley, to provide an improved local government funding settlement, up pops dear old Clarke to call for his head!

A one-off many might think? I don’t think so. Looking at Twitter/X, one finds that Clarke has the support of Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith who says he “couldn’t agree more” whilst the silence from Jacob Rees-Mogg and Andrea Jenkyns speaks a thousand words in itself.

Geoffrey Brooking

Havant

Delivering the answer

Oh joy, at the stroke of an Ofcom pen the Royal Mail could see all its woes evaporate. Reducing deliveries from six days a week to five, or even less, will pave the way to a brighter future.

Unfortunately, the reality is rather different. All that will happen is that fewer people will use the service, especially businesses, as items will not get to where they want them to be promptly. First-class stamps will be made extinct.

Consequently, revenues will fall leading to more cutbacks – almost certainly staff-related – which will then impinge on performance targets, which will lead to more customers fleeing and so on; ad infinitum. No, the only answer to this shambles is to renationalise, reorganise and fund the Post Office correctly for the 21st century.

Robert Boston

Kent