Ministers' new Lords shake-up delay

Senior MPs today urged Tony Blair to speed up the reform of the House of Lords after ministers announced yet another delay.

The Government had been expected to unveil its decision on how many peers would be elected in the newlook second chamber.

But in a three-page report, it said it was still weighing up 1,000 responses to its consultation, and "is not yet in a position to give a full response".

The Prime Minister wants to see a largely-appointed second chamber, in which 20 per cent of peers would be elected by the public. He is supported by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, but other Cabinet ministers want a much larger elected element.

The Commons Public Administration Committee has called for 60 per cent of members to be elected.

Today, the committee said it was "disappointing" that the Government had not yet reached a decision, adding: "Not to continue to reform the second chamber, in the way that we have shown to be possible, would be a missed opportunity of historic proportions."