YP Letters: Lords should remember the people's will

I AM old enough to recall the days when the House of Lords was very largely made up of hereditary peers and, in those far off days, it seemed to me that the ‘other Place’ could usually be relied upon to impart wisdom to the political scene.

What we have today in that once elite establishment is a motley collection of politicians, some well past their sell by date, aided by popinjays and toadies seemingly hell bent on making our Brexit negotiations more difficult (Bill Carmichael, The Yorkshire Post, March 3).

They will do well to remember that they are all unelected and to try and frustrate the will of the people may not be in their future best interests.

At the moment Frau Merkel etc must be laughing all the way from Brussels to Berlin.

From: Peter Hyde, Driffield.

THE members of the House of Lords need to be reminded that they are appointed by politicians and not elected by the populace.

They have no right to try to frustrate the will of the people in order. In any case there are too many Lords and it is high time that there was an age cut off date for the more antiquated members.

From: Mervyn Jackson, Belper, Derbyshire.

THE intervention on the Brexit Bill by the House of Lords may not, in the end, amount to much, or it may, along with other such interventions, cause problems because of the delays that will be created.

For me, the worst aspect of this issue is the idea of such people as Neil Kinnock voting to prolong our membership.

This vested interest should negate his, and others of his ilk, the right to vote on such matters. Couple this with the £300 per day they claim and I believe it is time for a different second chamber than that of the House of Lords.

From: Dick Lindley, Altofts, Normanton.

DEMOCRACY, don’t make me laugh! So there we have it, the unelected bishops, hereditary peers and the political appointees in the House of Lords have decided to vote against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of ordinary British people over Brexit. Why this unelected anachronism is allowed, in 2017, to thwart the will of the people is astonishing.

Proud to be an Englishman

From: Aled Jones, Southcliffe Road, Bridlington.

I believe the practice of racism to be incompatible with the principles of a free society. I despise it and all forms of discrimination.

That said, I am proud of being a white European man. I am proud of my race and its cultural achievements through the many centuries. Above all, I feel proud to be called an Englishman and I think it’s important that we can continue to celebrate St George’s Day.

In fact, I believe me and my fellow countrymen have a right to fight for a national identity, especially now, when ethnically displacing Europeans is the trend of the day. I want to know if any of this makes me a racist?

Let the people have their say

From: Jeff Thomas, Strait Lane, Huby, Leeds.

Re this mysterious beast called the Northern Powerhouse (The Yorkshire Post, February 27).

Clearly there are serious political problems this side of the Pennines which, at the moment, seem unsolvable. Northern Powerhouse Minister Andrew Percy MP seems hell-bent on putting obstacles in the way of devolution for Yorkshire.

We need a local business tycoon who could run as county mayor. Is there scope for a county referendum to let the people of Yorkshire have their say?

We need money on the table now to kick-start major projects. I sometimes wonder if John Prescott’s vision for the North should have been adopted in 2004.

Hot air about flying duty

From: Hugh Rogers, Messingham Road, Ashby.

ONE of the so-called “quality” Sunday newspapers is getting all worked up about a forthcoming increase in Air Passenger Duty expected in April.

Two points are worth making. One, it is not a stealth tax. Two, the extra cost will be £2 – funnily enough the same price as the Sunday paper carrying the story.

Upholding traditions

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.

CONGRATULATIONS for marking the onset of Lent with a large front page picture of Canon Collingwood holding a cross inside York Minster (The Yorkshire Post, March 1). All too often it seems that Christianity is being marginalised so you deserve thanks.

Spring has not yet sprung

From: D Webb, Rothwell.

MARCH 1 is not the official 
start of spring as stated in your column (The Yorkshire Post, February 28), the equinox on March 21 is the day. The meteorological and official start of the seasons are not the same thing.

Putting on the writs

From: Andrew Callaway, Woodhall Park, Northowram, Halifax.

I SUGGEST that the well-loved Brighouse ballroom be re-named “The Writs” and the new logo be two fingers rampant. Incidentally, I today bought a pack of Ritz biscuits for cheese – they are crackers too.