A group of senior MPs have backed a House of Commons motion callingfor democratic reform of the House of Lords.

Former Conservative Environment Minister David Curry, former Labour Leader of the House of Commons Robin Cook and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Menzies Campbell have jointly tabled an early day motion calling for the House of Lords to be replaced by a "predominantly elected" second chamber.

The motion also argues that the proposed Second Chamber of Parliament Bill, which was drafted by a cross party group of senior MPs in January, "provides a valuable basis for further discussion and decision."

Commenting on the motion on behalf of the Elect the Lords Campaign, Director of the New Politics Network Peter Facey said: "We welcome the tabling of this motion and urge all MPs committed todemocratic reform of the House of Lords to sign it.

"House of Lords reform has been promised by successive governments for almost a century now. With the new Labour government committed toholding a free vote on composition there is now a real chance of finally introducing meaningful reforms, but we must be careful to avoid a repeat of the debacle in 2003 where pro-reform MPs formed a majority in the House but could not agree on which option to support."The Second Chamber of Parliament Bill was drafted by then Lib Dem MP Paul Tyler (now Lord Tyler), Labour MPs Robin Cook and Dr Tony Wright and Conservative MPs Kenneth Clarke and Sir George Young. It proposes a 70% elected second chamber with members elected in thirds at each general election by proportional representation on a regional basis.The remainder would mostly be selected by an independent appointments commission, although the Prime Minister would still be entitled to appoint a few members as ministers.

ENDS

Full text of the Early Day Motion:

"That this House welcomes the Government's commitment to a free vote on the composition of Parliament's revising chamber, believes that the House of Lords should be replaced by a chamber which is predominantly elected and suggests that the Second Chamber of Parliament Bill, presented in February 2005 by the then Hon Member for North Cornwall, endorsed by the Rt Hon Member for Livingston, the Rt Hon Member for North West Hampshire, the Rt Hon Member for Rushcliffe and the Hon Member for Cannock Chase, and supported by other leading Members of both Houses, provides a valuable basis for further discussion and decision." The Elect the Lords campaign is calling for a predominantly elected second chamber to replace the existing House of Lords at the earliest opportunity. It was set up and is administered by the New Politics Network and Charter88 and is supported by a range of other organisations including the Electoral Reform Society, Compass, Liberal Future and Conservatives for Change (Cchange). For more information, see the Elect the Lords website.

Copies of the Second Chamber of Parliament Bill can be downloaded

from the Constitution Unit's website.