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Lords' membership cut considered | Lords' membership cut considered |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Membership of the House of Lords could be almost halved under proposals to replace peers with elected members. | Membership of the House of Lords could be almost halved under proposals to replace peers with elected members. |
The Financial Times says a cross-party working group is considering if there should be fewer than 400 represented in a reformed upper chamber. | |
Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who is leading the review, has said a "comprehensive reform package" would be in Labour's next election manifesto. | Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who is leading the review, has said a "comprehensive reform package" would be in Labour's next election manifesto. |
A White Paper of proposals is due to be published before the summer recess. | A White Paper of proposals is due to be published before the summer recess. |
Reform commitment | Reform commitment |
Last year MPs voted for either a wholly or 80% elected upper chamber. | Last year MPs voted for either a wholly or 80% elected upper chamber. |
The Lords want to keep the current system of an all-appointed membership. | The Lords want to keep the current system of an all-appointed membership. |
The FT reports that there was still debate over whether hereditary peers would be removed from the house immediately, and the details of election to the new chamber. | The FT reports that there was still debate over whether hereditary peers would be removed from the house immediately, and the details of election to the new chamber. |
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We will be bringing forward proposals for House of Lords reform in due course. We hope to publish a White Paper before the summer recess." | A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We will be bringing forward proposals for House of Lords reform in due course. We hope to publish a White Paper before the summer recess." |
Last summer, Mr Straw said he was committed to reform but conceded there was still "some way to go" and stressed the need for consensus. | Last summer, Mr Straw said he was committed to reform but conceded there was still "some way to go" and stressed the need for consensus. |
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats both supported reform of the Lords. | The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats both supported reform of the Lords. |
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