Labour peers 'plot Lords reform'

There are 92 remaining hereditary peers in the Lords

Labour peers are planning to develop their own ideas for Lords reform amid anger at the way ministers dropped a Bill to remove hereditaries.

They are holding a ballot of backbench peers to choose seven members to represent them on a committee which will look at their proposals.

They will look at what the powers and role of the upper chamber should be - though not whether members are elected.

The plans were dropped after it became clear they were unlikely to succeed.

Election

Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer told backbenchers it would be folly to lose a Bill in a pre-election period.

He said a recent decision by peers to send plans for a new supreme court to a special select committee made it clear they would not pass the House of Lords.

I believe the Labour peers have a great deal of knowledge and experience and it is great that they will contribute from this to the government and party Lord Dubs Chairman, Labour peers

This prompted Labour backbenchers to set up their own committee on Lords reform as a way of getting their voice heard.

About 16 peers are standing for election to the committee - the ballot closes on 20 April, after Parliament returns from the Easter recess.

The group will "consider what should be the functions of a reformed second chamber and what should be its powers, procedures and conventions, whilst recognising the primacy of the House of Commons".

Ping pong

The decision to set up the committee is a symptom of the frustration felt by some Labour peers at the dropping of the plans.

They are reportedly also furious at Commons leader Peter Hain's attack on the unelected second chamber.

The group is set to take evidence from other Labour peers rather than outside experts.

The government has grown increasingly frustrated in recent months with its inability to get legislation through the upper house.

Most hereditary peers lost their voting rights in the House of Lords in 1999, but 92 were allowed to stay on.

Rethink?

Government critics say the final shape of the Lords should be decided before the last hereditaries are removed.

MPs and peers failed to agree on seven options for Lords reform ranging from a fully appointed second chamber to an all elected one.

But ministers had announced plans in last autumn's Queen's Speech to make progress against the hereditaries in what they said would be the first stage of wider reforms.

The move also hits plans to let an independent appointments' commission pick non-party peers.

Government sources say it is now likely Labour will rethink its whole strategy on Lords reform as it draws up its manifesto for the next election.

But they say publishing a draft bill is one of the options being considered as ministers try to show reform is still on their agenda.