ANOTHER 16 appointments to the House of Cronies, sorry, Lords, are announced.

If all 800 or so Lords turn up next year I fear that the packed house will allow little elbow room on the benches of the noble members to get a decent bit of sleep during proceedings.

This undemocratic assembly continues to expand and is becoming an increasingly expensive pantomime – very appropriate for this time of year.

James Lawrence, Crook.