KEY POINTS:
MPs voted to sweep away 1000 years of parliamentary history yesterday as they passed by a huge margin a landmark motion calling for an all-elected House of Lords.
They voted by 337 to 224, a majority of 113 for an all elected upper chamber after a series of votes at Westminster.
MPs also backed plans for an 80 per cent-elected house, that would leave one in four peers appointed, but by a much smaller majority. They overwhelmingly rejected compromise options, including a half-elected, half-appointed Upper House.
Pro-reform MPs were jubilant in the lobbies as news of the vote was announced. "It was like body surfing in the aye lobby," said one. But the vote was seen by many as a "train wreck, part two", with the vote for a radical all-elected Lords threatening to push reform into the buffers.
Jack Straw, the Leader of the Commons, gave a triumphant thumbs-up sign as the first vote for reform passed. He said: "This is a historic step forward on an issue which has been a matter of debate for decades. The House of Commons has broken the deadlock. It is a dramatic result in the history of the British Parliament."
Officials had feared a repeat of the chaos of the previous attempt at reform, when the Commons voted down all options. But in a string of votes, MPs rejected a string of alternatives, including Prime Minister Tony Blair's favoured proposal for a half-and-half split between elected and appointed peers in favour of an 80 per cent House.
The votes are not binding and represent an attempt to gauge support for reform.
Peers will vote on options for reform next week before ministers consider the next steps forward with a cross-party group of MPs and peers.
Ministers plan to draw up a draft bill outlining the detailed plans for reform.
- INDEPENDENT
