Lords Reform: vote not an excuse to do nothing

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 4th Feb 2003

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne is calling for the joint commission on Lords reform to press ahead with plans for a largely elected second chamber, following the votes in the Westminster Parliament yesterday.

The Liberal Democrat MEP said:

"The House of Commons have got themselves into a mess over this issue, but it is clear that the only two options that gained a respectable level of support were the ones for a fully elected and 80% elected chamber. The 80% option would have almost certainly won were it not for Tony Blair's attempts to undermine the whole debate."

"History will judge the current generation of Westminster MPs very harshly indeed if they turn away from reform now, after almost 100 years of botched attempts.

"The least popular option was for a fully appointed second chamber. That is what we have now, so no reform is no longer an option."