This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6376229.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Straw U-turn on Lords vote plans Straw U-turn on Lords vote plans
(10 minutes later)
Leader of the Commons Jack Straw has abandoned plans to break with tradition and allow MPs to vote on Lords reform using a preferential voting system.Leader of the Commons Jack Straw has abandoned plans to break with tradition and allow MPs to vote on Lords reform using a preferential voting system.
Mr Straw had proposed the system as MPs have failed in the past to agree on how much of the Lords should be elected.Mr Straw had proposed the system as MPs have failed in the past to agree on how much of the Lords should be elected.
Instead of a traditional vote he wanted MPs to rank options, from all peers being elected to all being appointed.Instead of a traditional vote he wanted MPs to rank options, from all peers being elected to all being appointed.
But Mr Straw said his "enthusiasm" for the vote plan, which he only unveiled 12 days ago, was clearly not shared.But Mr Straw said his "enthusiasm" for the vote plan, which he only unveiled 12 days ago, was clearly not shared.
REFORM PROPOSALS A 'hybrid' of elected and appointed peersReduce size of House from 746 to 540 membersEnd hereditary and life peerages over timeElected peers to be voted in at same time as Euro electionsMaximum time in office of 15 years for elected and appointed peersAppointees a mixture of party politicians and non-party figuresLords may be renamed - possibly 'The Reformed Chamber'Anglican bishops and archbishops to keep seats Plans at-a-glance Full text of White Paper
During Commons exchanges on the day the Lords reform plans were unveiled there was opposition to the plan on the basis that it broke with Commons tradition, which sees MPs vote by walking through the yes or no lobbies.During Commons exchanges on the day the Lords reform plans were unveiled there was opposition to the plan on the basis that it broke with Commons tradition, which sees MPs vote by walking through the yes or no lobbies.
Mr Straw had said the preferential system was necessary to avoid the "train wreck" of 2003 when MPs voted to reject each of the various options for the proportion of the Lords that should be elected and the proportion that should be appointed.Mr Straw had said the preferential system was necessary to avoid the "train wreck" of 2003 when MPs voted to reject each of the various options for the proportion of the Lords that should be elected and the proportion that should be appointed.
REFORM PROPOSALS A 'hybrid' of elected and appointed peersReduce size of House from 746 to 540 membersEnd hereditary and life peerages over timeElected peers to be voted in at same time as Euro electionsMaximum time in office of 15 years for elected and appointed peersAppointees a mixture of party politicians and non-party figuresLords may be renamed - possibly 'The Reformed Chamber'Anglican bishops and archbishops to keep seats Plans at-a-glance Full text of White Paper
But he has now accepted that opposition and MPs will vote on each of the options: 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; all appointedBut he has now accepted that opposition and MPs will vote on each of the options: 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; all appointed
The Conservatives have said the reforms would lack support, while the Lib Dems gave them a guarded welcome when they were announced in earlier in February. Mr Straw said he still believed that the preferential vote was "the most effective way" to get a consensus.
However, he said: "I don't want discussions about procedure to overshadow the important substantive debate we're going to be having on the future of the Lords itself, and I think we'd all agree we mustn't let this kind of process get in the way of a reform to which all parties are committed."
He described the voting system as like a "perfectly formed aeroplane but it would be denied fuel and therefore wasn't going to be able to fly".
Liberal Democrat David Heath said Mr Straw's initial proposal for preferential voting was "absolutely right...as it was a way of discerning the clear will of the house".
But the Shadow Commons leader, Theresa May, welcomed Mr Straw's change of heart.
"A preferential ballot would have taken us into murky constitutional waters.
"It is a fundamental right of Parliament to reject government proposals should it wish to do so and the preferential system of voting would have removed that right.
"Now the Leader of the House has said that he proposed it in order to break the deadlock but isn't the reason for the deadlock a lack of consensus caused by the government's unwillingness to relinquish party political patronage."
Mr Straw has said he personally favours 50% of members being elected, 30% being appointed from party political choices and 20% being appointed from among non-party candidates.Mr Straw has said he personally favours 50% of members being elected, 30% being appointed from party political choices and 20% being appointed from among non-party candidates.