I agree with most of this. I certainly don't think we ought to have an elected, political, second chamber. It would just be an expensive, pointless diversion with the capacity to generate heat but no light.

A second chamber of the experienced, wise and skilled is what's needed to review, suggest and improve. Ensuring the appointments are solely on merit, without any kind of political input, is essential, as is the need to remove hereditary rights, which are an anachronism in the modern world. A standing Commission reporting to the Monarch seems the way to go.

How they should meet, whether together, or as specialist committees is something that itself could be reviewed by them, but probably a mixture of both dependent on the subject.

I do though think that some ex politicians need to be included. Like it or not, politics has an influence over whether things are deliverable, or not, so having some who have been in the mix to add wise counsel to the advice being sent forwards seems sensible.

Very idealistic.

Any chamber that is not directly elected will be subverted by the politicians of all parties.

If they can't choose who goes in the upper house they will choose the people who make the choice so it becomes selection by proxy.

You only have to look at how Labour has pushed that disgusting Tom Watson against the wishes of many. No doubt it was a prid quo pro for some equally disgusting Tory.

The elite in this country have given us the illusion of democracy not the reality.