Political shake-up: Proportional voting plans

As well as seeking to introduce five-year fixed parliaments and cutting the number of MPs, the Parliamentary Reform Bill provides for a referendum on a new voting system.

People will be asked to chose between the current "first past the post" system and the Alternative Vote method wherein candidates need 50 per cent of the vote to be elected, with voters ranking candidates in order of preference.

The Queen's Speech also pledged legislation to allow voters to "recall" an MP guilty of serious wrongdoing and force a by-election, if more than 10 per cent of electors sign a petition.

The Boundary Commission will now be asked to draw up plans for more equally-sized constituencies, with fewer MPs, in time for the next election.

The move would boost the Tories' chances at a future general election, as they usually have to garner larger numbers of votes in bigger constituencies to get elected than their Labour counterparts.