Letter: Parliamentary reform

Sir: Your leading article ("The Lords do not need reform - they need abolition", 16 October) doesn't tell us what you want a second chamber to do. Is it to hold the Commons in check? Then of course an elected body would be just the job. But if all you want is intelligent and knowledgeable scrutiny of legislation, then perhaps it isn't such a good idea to bestow on the second chamber the power that comes from being democratically elected.

TED GANG

London W3