Irrespective of Lord Ashcroft's qualifications to be a senior government minister – to my mind very doubtful – there is one clear objection to his becoming one ("Cameron tries to laugh off his Ashcroft feud", The Herald, September 23). He has never been elected.
I am a supporter of the House of Lords in principle. It clearly needs change. It should should be very much smaller and it should be comprised only of people who have the experience and expertise to make it the revising chamber bit was intended to be. It has an important role to play in that regard.
But none of the membership should ever become a senior member of the Government. The members are unelected and responsible to no-one, either constituents or the public at large. Lord Ashcroft is only one example.
Richard Cole-Hamilton,
28 South Beach,
Troon.
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