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Elected Lords plan to be unveiled Straw unveils elected Lords plan
(about 7 hours later)
The government is expected to call for most - or all - peers to be elected when it publishes its latest plans for House of Lords reform. Justice Secretary Jack Straw has set out the latest plans for reform of the House of Lords.
But ministers are likely to concede that proposals will be shelved until after the next general election. Under the proposals most, if not all peers, would be elected and to serve between 12 and 15 years.
Under the plans 80% or 100% of peers would be elected for a single term of 12 or 15 years. Hereditary peers would go, with the total number of peers cut. The Lords would be reduced in size from more than 700 peers to no more than 450. The bishops would stay, but the 92 hereditary peers would be abolished.
MPs voted last year in favour of a 100% elected House of Lords. Mr Straw told the Commons that any change would only take place after the next General Election.
MPs voted last year in favour of a reformed Lords being either 80% or 100% elected.
OppositionOpposition
Sources have told the BBC there is little appetite for pressing ahead with reform at a time of economic difficulty.Sources have told the BBC there is little appetite for pressing ahead with reform at a time of economic difficulty.
There are also several probable obstacles, including expected opposition to elections from peers themselves and the question of how to reduce the size of the Lords.There are also several probable obstacles, including expected opposition to elections from peers themselves and the question of how to reduce the size of the Lords.
In March last year MPs voted by a majority of 113 in favour of an all-elected second chamber.In March last year MPs voted by a majority of 113 in favour of an all-elected second chamber.
Allowed more than one choice, they also opted by a majority of 38 for 80% of members being elected and the rest appointed. Allowed more than one choice, they also opted by a majority of 38 for 80% of membersto be elected and the rest appointed.
The decisions did not pass into law but have been used to inform government plans, with Jack Straw - then the Commons leader and now justice secretary - calling them "a historic step forward". The results of the votes were used to "inform" government plans, with Mr Straw - then the Commons leader - calling them "a historic step forward".
The previous time the Commons voted on Lords reform, in 2003, all options were rejected.The previous time the Commons voted on Lords reform, in 2003, all options were rejected.
At the moment all peers are appointed, apart from the 92 hereditaries who survived the first phase of Lords reform during Tony Blair's first term as prime minister.At the moment all peers are appointed, apart from the 92 hereditaries who survived the first phase of Lords reform during Tony Blair's first term as prime minister.