PEOPLE like us or the usual suspects?

The selection of the Great and the Good by those same people to sit in the reformed House of Lords while being greatly disappointing should hardly come as a surprise (York charity work is a 'people's peer', April 26).

Self-selecting bodies are undemocratic and unrepresentative by their very nature. Therefore, until the upper chamber becomes an elected body, the reform undertaken by New Labour is only window dressing.

The end of term report for New Labour would have to read that presentation was good, delivery was poor and they will have to do better next term.

Richard Lamb,

Greystoke Road,

Rawcliffe, York.

Updated: 10:22 Monday, April 30, 2001