From the Rt Revd Dr Peter
Selby
Sir, - You repeat in your leader comment (
10 August) the tired assertion that a Second Chamber with
elected members would rival the Commons. This is a very patronising
comment on an electorate well capable of taking account of the
nature of the body it is electing, and is perfectly capable of
choosing among candidates for a revising and scrutinising chamber,
knowing that they are not choosing a government.
It is sad and indeed embarrassing that
the Church of England comes out of this, for all its protestations
to the contrary, looking for all the world like one of the many
vested interests that have made an elected Second Chamber
impossible to achieve. Some bishops have made notable contributions
to Lords debates; it's a shame that they couldn't bring themselves
to present a vision for election as the way our politics witnesses
to the conviction of the equal worth of every person.
PETER SELBY
57 Girton Road
London SE26 5DJ