MY congratulations to Mr Clive Balchin on the sentiments expressed (LT, November 12) re ‘Official’ payments, etc.

Perhaps the most telling paragraph was the ultimate one.

For years I have been saying that one doesn’t need any qualifications to become any sort of a politician.

Oh, I know that one can now go to college or uni and study subjects related to politics; but this is no criterion. It’s similar to the latest crazy wheeze of making nurses study for a degree.

I don’t need to reiterate what Mr Balchin said, but let’s consider a number of facts.

How many MPs in the present government have failed in more than one position?

Having failed in one, the cards are shuffled and the appear in another, only to fail again.

The crowning accolade is to be elevated to the peerage in one way or another. The perfect (that’s an oxymoron) example is Lord Mandelson.

We don’t need to raise our sights to that level. Since the local elections, the former leader of Lancashire County Council has slid quietly into a leading position with the NHS.

And at least two other displaced officials are now vying to become MPs.

As for quangos, these unelected, powerful, expensive bodies should be completely scrapped, as should certain sections of the so-called ‘honours’ list.

Also, the BBC should be forced to reveal salaries, etc.

R BRACEWELL, Ormerod Street, Burnley.