Now is the time to deliver Lords reform

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Jul 2007

Following Jack Straw's statement in the Commons today, Director of Unlock Democracy Peter Facey said:

"We welcome the Government's commitment to a predominantly or wholly elected second chamber. As Jack Straw said today, the vote in March changed the nature of the argument irrevocably. There can be no going back to piecemeal solutions that will satisfy no-one.

"We are glad to see that Mr Straw is in favour of an open process, involving non-parliamentarians, interest groups, and the public. He is right to recognise that if constitutional reform is to last, it must be built on the informed will of the people.

"However, the vote in March also established another important principle: constitutional arguments must ultimately be resolved by votes in Parliament. So while we accept the need for a broad debate on the powers and conventions of the second chamber, the Government must have indicative votes in the House in order to establish broad agreement.

"Mr Straw suggested that all the parties should make manifesto commitments to a reform package at the next election. We do not want action on Lords reform to be put off again. This Government has already made three manifesto commitments to reform the House of Lords. It is now time to fulfill those commitments.

"The clearest statement of intent the Government could make before then would be to get a Bill through all the stages in the House of Commons (if not the Lords) before the General Election. We will continue to push for them to do so."