Letter: Peers and pageantry

Sir: I have been listening, with great interest to discussions in Parliament about the Government's plans to get hereditary peers "off benefit and into work".

I have been most impressed to hear from Mr Hague and others about the tremendous job these people have done over many years of service to the nation. It must be a great blessing to us all that they will now be given the vote in parliamentary elections and, indeed, the right to stand for election. If the people are opposed to the Government and eager to retain the services of our hereditary peers within the national legislature, it will be very easy for them to take their rightful places, for there can be no doubt that they will sweep the board at the next general election.

Quite a lot of them live in the same constituency as me so I await their election addresses with joyous anticipation.

PETER GRESHAM

London W14