Write to letters@thetimes.co.ukSir, Melanie Phillips is on the right track (“Hereditary peers are essential: don’t ditch them”, Oct 15). Of course, the Lords needs reform, especially in terms of its size as well as the ancient right of hereditary peerages. But ridding the House of 92 hereditary peers when the principle of automatic by-elections for hereditaries is already dealt with in the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill does not address the issue of too many of our number, both hereditary and life peers, who contribute little if anything to the important function of legislative scrutiny and revision. These should be the focus of our cull, which could, if properly applied, reduce the size of the House by at least 20 per
