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| MPs debating Lords reform plans | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MPs have begun two days of debate on the future of the House of Lords, with a final decision expected on Wednesday. | |
| Commons leader Jack Straw has put forward several choices, ranging from all members of the Lords being elected to all being appointed. | Commons leader Jack Straw has put forward several choices, ranging from all members of the Lords being elected to all being appointed. |
| He has told reform supporters to "get their act together" to avoid a repeat of a failed attempt at change in 2003. | He has told reform supporters to "get their act together" to avoid a repeat of a failed attempt at change in 2003. |
| Most MPs are thought to support a "hybrid" Lords but with varying ratios of elected members and appointees. | Most MPs are thought to support a "hybrid" Lords but with varying ratios of elected members and appointees. |
| MPs of all parties will get a free vote on the issue. | MPs of all parties will get a free vote on the issue. |
| The choices before MPs are: 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 choices before MPs are: 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 |
| Mr Straw will vote in favour of three of the options - 50%, 60% or 80% of the upper house being elected. | Mr Straw will vote in favour of three of the options - 50%, 60% or 80% of the upper house being elected. |
| It is possible for more than one of the choices to be backed by a majority of MPs. | |
| However, as no bill is being debated, the most popular option will not pass into law - but is likely to inform future government policy. | |
| The last time the Commons voted on Lords reform, Mr Straw backed plans for a wholly appointed upper house. | |
| He told MPs that while he initially thought an elected second chamber would "undermine" the primacy of the House of Commons, he had since changed his mind. | |
| 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 Will entire reform falter? | 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 Will entire reform falter? |
| But shadow Commons leader Theresa May has questioned a system that could still allow parties effectively to choose 80% of Lords members. | But shadow Commons leader Theresa May has questioned a system that could still allow parties effectively to choose 80% of Lords members. |
| Support | |
| Mr Straw said that if no single option was taken, it would not be "satisfactory for the House's reputation". | Mr Straw said that if no single option was taken, it would not be "satisfactory for the House's reputation". |
| "It's now incumbent for those who want to see reform to get their act together." | "It's now incumbent for those who want to see reform to get their act together." |
| Ms May said: "The conclusion to this research is clear and unavoidable: a wholly or substantially elected House of Lords would not undermine the primacy of the House of Commons, and would not damage our constitution. | Ms May said: "The conclusion to this research is clear and unavoidable: a wholly or substantially elected House of Lords would not undermine the primacy of the House of Commons, and would not damage our constitution. |
| "We have always said that we will support the government if their reforms create a House of Lords that is capable of challenging and revising government policy, that is democratic and accountable, that is expert and independent." | "We have always said that we will support the government if their reforms create a House of Lords that is capable of challenging and revising government policy, that is democratic and accountable, that is expert and independent." |
| 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 office. | 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 office. |
| Research by the Hansard Society think tank, published last month, suggested only 6% of the public want a fully appointed House of Lords, with 82% preferring at least some elected members. It surveyed 1,980 adults. | Research by the Hansard Society think tank, published last month, suggested only 6% of the public want a fully appointed House of Lords, with 82% preferring at least some elected members. It surveyed 1,980 adults. |