Peers face axe in Lords reform

The axe was set to fall on Britain's 92 remaining hereditary peers today as ministers set out plans to reform the House of Lords.

Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer was set to dispense with the group, who retained their seats as part of a compromise deal which involved kicking out more than 600 hereditaries in 1999.

At that time, the Government agreed to preserve the 92 until the "second stage" of reform had been completed.

This was understood to mean sweeping changes to make the chamber more democratic, including elected peers, but this has so far not happened.