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Straw to reveal Lords reform plan Straw to reveal Lords reform plan
(30 minutes later)
The government is to unveil its long-awaited Lords reform plans, with MPs divided over how many peers should be elected and how many appointed. The government is to unveil its long-awaited Lords reform plans, which are expected to propose that some of its members are elected in future.
Commons leader Jack Straw wants a 50/50 split but is expected to offer seven different options in a White Paper. The White Paper will offer MPs the chance to decide on the proportions of peers to be elected or appointed.
The Lib Dems and some Labour MPs are promising to revive a campaign for a fully elected second chamber. Commons leader Jack Straw wants a 50/50 split but will offer options ranging from all elected to none elected.
The Lib Dems said ending an "outdated system of patronage" was needed to restore faith in democracy. The plans, an attempt to end longterm deadlock, will also propose cutting the number of peers from 746 to 540.
'Vast range of views''Vast range of views'
The White Paper - a document which puts government ideas to MPs for consultation before a final bill is drafted - is expected to call for the number of peers to be reduced from the current 746 to 540. The White Paper - a document which puts government ideas to MPs for consultation before a final bill is drafted - will be outlined to MPs by Mr Straw at about 1240 GMT.
Elected members would sit for a maximum of three five-year terms, Mr Straw is predicted to say. There have been reports of a generous redundancy package being offered for the remaining 92 hereditary and appointed peers, although it is thought that may not be in the White Paper.
The White Paper is reported to include a generous redundancy package for the remaining 92 hereditary and appointed peers. The vast majority of Lords must be elected if we are going to go some way to restoring public faith in the political system Sir Menzies CampbellLiberal Democrat leader
Mr Straw is reported to want to boost the quality of appointees and is proposing a double threshold to ensure that candidates put forward by politicians meet criteria of "propriety and suitability." Mr Straw's plans are expected to propose a double threshold to ensure that candidates put forward by politicians meet criteria of "propriety and suitability".
The idea is that this would stop governments appointing peers to increase their numbers in the Lords. While there appears to be backing for the idea that there should be elected element in the Lords in future, there is no agreement on what proportion should be elected and what proportion appointed.
At the moment all peers are appointed, apart from the 92 hereditary peers who survived the first phase of Lords reform during Tony Blair's first term in Number 10.
A previous attempt to bring in elected peers failed in 2003 after MPs voted on a range of different proportions of elected vs appointed peers, with no single option getting majority backing.
This time round Mr Straw is expected to outline a complicated process designed to ensure that one preferred option emerges in the end.
'Range of views''Range of views'
The Commons will vote on the exact proportion of peers to be elected, with the options ranging from none to all. It is understood this process will see MPs voting first on whether they want any kind of upper house at all and then whether the current House of Lords should be reformed.
Labour backbenchers and peers were reported to have expressed a "vast range of views" on their preferred options at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday.
Under the current plan, MPs will vote first on whether they want any kind of upper house at all and then whether the current House of Lords should be reformed.
They will then vote on seven options for reform: all elected; 80% elected and 20% appointed; 60% elected and 40% appointed; half and half; 40% elected and 60% appointed; 20% elected and 80% appointed; or all appointed.They will then vote on seven options for reform: all elected; 80% elected and 20% appointed; 60% elected and 40% appointed; half and half; 40% elected and 60% appointed; 20% elected and 80% appointed; or all appointed.
Instead of going through the division lobbies, MPs will indicate their preferences in order on a ballot paper.Instead of going through the division lobbies, MPs will indicate their preferences in order on a ballot paper.
The least popular option will be knocked out and its second preferences redistributed until one option achieves a majority. The least popular option will be knocked out and its second preferences redistributed until one option achieves a majority, in a process which in itself would break from standard Parliamentary practice.
The White Paper comes as the police investigation into "cash for honours" continues. 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... it will not end political nominations or the corrosive suspicion that seats in the second chamber are sold by political parties."
The vast majority of Lords must be elected if we are going to go some way to restoring public faith in the political system Sir Menzies CampbellLiberal Democrat leader
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.
"The scandal surrounding cash for peerages underlines the need to reform the outdated system of patronage through which most people are appointed to the Lords.
"The vast majority of Lords must be elected if we are going to go some way to restoring public faith in the political system."
Former chancellor Ken Clarke, who is leading a Tory working group on constitutional reform, has said he favours having mostly elected peers.Former chancellor Ken Clarke, who is leading a Tory working group on constitutional reform, has said he favours having mostly elected peers.
But some prominent Conservative MPs, including Patrick Cormack and John Maples, are said to prefer appointed members.But some prominent Conservative MPs, including Patrick Cormack and John Maples, are said to prefer appointed members.
Research by the Hansard Society think-tank suggests only 6% of the public want a fully appointed House of Lords, with 82% preferring at least some elected members.Research by the Hansard Society think-tank suggests only 6% of the public want a fully appointed House of Lords, with 82% preferring at least some elected members.
Its survey of 1,980 adults found 40% wanted a mixture of elected and appointed members, and 42% wanted the second chamber to be fully elected. Its survey of 1,980 adults suggests 40% wanted a mixture of elected and appointed members, and 42% wanted the second chamber to be fully elected.