• IN his long list of praises for the current government, Martin Plaut mentions reform of the House of Lords, (Labour has embarked on socialist policies, January 2).

Labour is seeking to remove hereditary peers from the unelected second chamber. However, should not Labour seek to reform the House of Lords to consist of only elected members?

Recently the prime minister made several appointments to the unelected House of Lords.

How will these newly appointed Labour peers serve socialist policies better than hereditary peers?

Will they perhaps donate their daily (tax-free) allowance of £361 to just causes?

Removing hereditary peers makes socialist sense – even though, paradoxically, we continue with the constitutional monarchy – but replacing them with friends of prime ministers and party leaders does not equate with socialist reform.

DR AGNES KORY, NW3