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At the start of the Queen’s reign there were under 300 privy counsellors; now there are over 660. The reluctance of the new Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to join an institution which he once said should be abolished, prompted the following letter from Alistair Lexden, published in The Times on September 21.
Sir, It may well be that the Queen would agree with Mr Corbyn that something radical needs to be done about the privy council (“Leader wanted to end Privy Council”, Sept.18). Her father ticked off Winston Churchill in 1940 when he wanted to appoint one of his cronies, Brendan Bracken. George VI insisted that only people of high distinction who had rendered conspicuous service to the nation should be admitted. If that view had continued to hold sway, Mr Corbyn would not be a candidate for a role he plainly does not want—and the Privy Council would not have swollen to an embarrassing size. Mr Cameron is the worst offender, having added 170 to it in five years.
Lord Lexden
House of Lords