THERE appear to be internal proposals to reform the vastly overpopulated House of Lords, which would eventually cut its numbers from 800-plus to 600.

That is all very well, but the UK is supposed to be a democracy, and its upper house should be reflective and representative of society. Could I suggest, if a democratic element is to be denied to us, then the national parliaments* within the UK should have the right to nominate (or elect) a set number of people from the four Home countries.

A more reasonable number would be 250 for England, 50 for Scotland, 25 for Wales and 12 for Northern Ireland, and none should be in post for longer than a decade. These would be my numbers, but anyone could put forth their own suggestions. An exercise in futility perhaps, but we live in hope.

*I am aware that there is no “English” parliament, but Westminster is to all intents, just a continuation of the parliament of England (all the flummery, posts and titles predate the Treaty of Union) so it should be easy to come to an “English” solution.

GR Weir,

17 Mill Street, Ochiltree.