NOW that we have abolished the hereditary membership of the House of Lords, maybe it is time to seize the opportunity to create a truly-democratic second chamber.

In ancient Greece, if I remember rightly, when a council was selected, all the citizens' names were placed into a vessel and the required number drawn out at random.

All citizens whose names were drawn out were expected to serve or forfeit their citizenship. Corruption was punishable by death and all were expected to serve to the best of their ability.

I would suggest that the names of all persons over 18 are put on a list and, say, 500 selected by computer, the chosen then to sit in the second chamber for two years.

Anyone refusing to serve without good reason would forfeit their right to state-provided benefits.

The advantage of this system would be that the actions of the House of Commons would be scrutinised by people free from party loyalties and, by serving only two years, would not have the time to be corrupted.

The people would for the first time be democratically represented by a cross-section of truly independent non-party 'peers.'

L LAWES, Bold Street, Blackburn.

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