Government unveils Lords reform plans

10.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 7th Feb 2007

The government has unveiled its long-awaited Lords reform plans, proposing cutting the number of peers to 540. MPs will choose - probably in early March - between seven options for reform, based on different proportions of elected and appointed peers. Instead of going through the division lobbies, MPs will indicate their preferences in order on a ballot paper using the Alternative Vote system. The White Paper does not detail how peers might be elected, but Jack Straw said elections were likely to take place at the same time as the European elections and to be based on an "open" list. The White Paper does not propose removing bishops from the Lords.

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell said "Reform of the House of Lords is long overdue but the Government's proposed position is unsatisfactory and unsustainable. Most importantly, it will not end political nominations or the corrosive suspicion that seats in the second chamber are sold by political parties."

Liberal Democrat President said "Liberal Democrats have always been committed to a wholly or substantially elected second House. In the 21st century the only way that both Houses of Parliament can be legitimate is for them to be made up of people elected directly by the people."