Lords reform 'in next manifesto'

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Justice Secretary Jack Straw has told MPs the government remains determined to reform the House of Lords.

Mr Straw said he hoped a "comprehensive reform package" for the Lords would be in Labour's next election manifesto.

There was deadlock earlier this year between MPs and Lords on whether peers should be elected or appointed.

Mr Straw said a white paper would be published at the turn of the year. But Nick Herbert, for the Tories, said the plans were effectively "on ice".

In a Commons statement, Mr Straw said he wanted to remove the "anomaly" of hereditary peers as part of a substantially or wholly-elected chamber.

Lords reform has long been a feature of Labour manifestos.

Cross-party talks

The most recent attempt to find a consensus foundered in March when MPs backed an 100% or 80% elected second chamber, but peers backed an all-appointed second chamber.

A cross-party working group will now discuss the powers of the second chamber, the method of election to it, financial packages and the number of members.

Pressed on whether there would be a draft Bill before the next election, Mr Straw, who originally favoured a half-elected, half-appointed second chamber, said it would depend on progress in the cross-party talks.

He said he was committed to reform but conceded there was still "some way to go" and stressed the need for consensus.

"In dealing with such a central element of the constitution it's right that there's as much all-party agreement as is possible.

"I accept there may well not be total agreement, but the constitution does not belong to any one party and it should not be used as a partisan tool," he told MPs.

Tory concern

Shadow Justice Secretary, Nick Herbert, for the Conservatives, said he "welcomed" Mr Straw's backing for a wholly or substantially elected second chamber - and pledged to work with the government on reaching consensus.

But he added: "Isn't the real message in the Lord Chancellor's statement today that Lords reform is on ice until after the next election?

"There will be another white paper, possibly draft clauses, but can he confirm that he has no plans to introduce legislation to deliver a substantially elected Upper House in this Parliament?"

He also said there was "profound concern" on the Conservative benches about the proposed electoral system for a second chamber.

"A system of election based on closed lists and large, artificial multi-member constituencies would keep power in the hands of party bosses.

"We cannot accept the removal of the independence and authority of the present Lords unless real democratic accountability is put in its place."

'Haste and speed'

Veteran Tory backbencher Sir Patrick Cormack accused Mr Straw of trying to "destroy" the constitution.

But he also said Mr Herbert did not speak for the majority of Conservative MPs, who he said were against a wholly or mostly elected second chamber.

For the Liberal Democrats, Simon Hughes said he welcomed the commitment by Mr Straw and his "willingness to change your position to accommodate views of the majority in all parties".

Mr Hughes said he supported cross-party talks and getting on with the process.

But he asked: "If you are really committed...to a major constitutional settlement...isn't the logic of that that we get on with the process rather than slow it down?"

Mr Straw replied: "It is an issue really of haste and speed. If we are too hasty then this will fall. I want this to go to fulfilment.

"I am clear that we can get there but there are many big issues we have still got to determine."

Difficulties

Mr Straw added that he was ready to "look again" at the whole issue of electoral systems."

Labour MP Gordon Prentice called for action to strip people such as Conrad Black, who was convicted of fraud in the United States, of their seat in the House of Lords.

Mr Straw said he agreed, but there could be difficulties about a limited Bill to achieve this.

Mr Straw also agreed to look at a suggestion by Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay that ministers in the Commons and the second chamber would be able to appear in either house.