WHILST I used to support unthinkingly our bicameral legislature in its traditional form, I have become increasingly concerned with what over the years has become an unreasonably huge unelected second chamber, the House of Lords, and now believe it is high time that second chamber was reduced and reformed.

The current attempt by the majority of those Lords to claim the moral high ground in their vote that the UK residency rights of EU nationals living here be confirmed come what may regarding the residency fate of UK citizens living in the EU 92Lords vote in EU national welcomed”, The Herald, March 2), only demonstrates how out of touch with reality their Lordships have become, sheltered as they are in their privileged Ruritanian existence. Surely they must have known that seeking to protect the interests of our fellow citizens living in the EU, Theresa May sought to resolve the residency situation with the EU on a reciprocal basis, but was rebuffed by Angela Merkel, who took the understandable position that such matters could only be negotiated once Article 50 had been triggered by the UK. Now we have the farcical position of their Lordships grandstanding by erecting a barrier potentially to delay that triggering and if successful weaken our negotiating position, all to the possible detriment of those of their fellow citizens living in the EU.

I have to declare an interest as one of my daughters has lived and worked in Strasbourg for years, and is now as uncertain of her future there as no doubt are her opposite numbers here, but who is to speak up for her residency rights? Certainly not their Lordships.

Alan Fitzpatrick,

10 Solomon's View, Dunlop.