'Great reform' planned for Lords

The government is set to introduce a "great reforming bill" on the House of Lords, a cabinet minister has said.

Peter Hain said that MPs could get a chance to vote on reform of the upper house within the next session of parliament.

But the Conservatives rejected the claims, saying there were still "many difficult issues yet to be discussed".

The issue has moved rapidly up the political agenda following the 'cash-for-peerages' row.

And the Northern Ireland secretary said the government was reviewing its options for bringing forward reform proposals.

"I think the prime minister and the government are now moving towards a position where we provide the Commons with that choice and indeed, then take through in the next session, I hope, of this parliament, a great reforming bill on the House of Lords which, in a sense, will be part of the democratic renewal which we, as a government, have got a proud record on," Hain told the GMTV Sunday Programme.

Responding to the comments, shadow constitutional affairs secretary Oliver Heald accused ministers of "desperation".

"So far we have only set a timetable for preliminary talks," he added.

"Although the Conservatives are committed to building a consensus for a substantially elected second chamber, there are many difficult issues yet to be discussed.

"It would be unacceptable to have any reduction of the powers of the second chamber."