Elected Lords Bill set to be published

A Bill to introduce a mainly-elected House of Lords will be published today after receiving “strong support” at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

By The Newsroom

Published 27th Jun 2012, 07:00 BST

David Cameron’s official spokesman confirmed that coalition MPs will be whipped “appropriately” to support the reforms and the Government is ready to use the Parliament Act, if necessary, to overcome any opposition from peers.

Precise details of the legislation have not yet been revealed, but the spokesman said it was largely unchanged from a draft bill published last year, which envisaged an 80 per cent-elected Upper House of 300 members, sitting for single 15-year terms.

Plans for legislation were outlined to Cabinet by Nick Clegg, and around 15-16 Ministers spoke in favour of the changes, including House of Lords leader Lord Strathclyde, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, said Mr Cameron’s spokesman.