Blair pledge over Lords reform

The House of Lords hosts the pomp and ceremony of the Queen's speech

Tony Blair has said House of Lords reform will only proceed if MPs and peers agree - and will not be forced through using the Parliament Act.

Labour peers said he told them he would accept a part-appointed and part elected Lords but only if there was consensus, the BBC has learned.

Jack Straw, the Leader of the Commons, said last week reform could be forced through using the Parliament Act.

No 10 sources confirmed the comments but said changes would proceed.

However, the Labour peers said Mr Blair's remarks meant Lords reform was now unlikely to happen because there was, in their view, little chance of any consensus being reached either within Labour or within other parties.

The general feeling was that he's kicked it into the long grass Labour peer

The prime minister made his remarks on Wednesday when he addressed Labour peers in the House of Lords in a private meeting.

Several peers spoke to the BBC's political correspondent James Landale after the meeting.

One said: "He said he'd only do anything if there's consensus. The general feeling was that he's kicked it into the long grass."

Peers said the prime minister's remarks were in stark contrast to what the leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw, told them last week.

They said Mr Straw was given a "robust ride" after he indicated the government would use the Parliament Acts to force through Lords reform if agreement was reached among MPs in the House of Commons.

Blair 'optimistic'

Downing Street sources confirmed Mr Blair's remarks but denied they meant Lords reform was now unlikely.

"He did say that we would go ahead only with consensus and we wouldn't therefore railroad anything through," said one.

"But he said he remained optimistic that a consensus could be reached, so it's wrong to say reform is ditched."

Mr Straw's plans for Lords reform were leaked last weekend.

He wants a 50% elected, 50% appointed upper house; its membership cut from 741 to 450; and terms limited to just three parliaments or about 12 years.