MP welcomes historic Lords reform vote

12.32.34pm GMT Thu 8th Mar 2007

Bristol West MP Stephen Williams has welcomed the vote of the House of Commons for a fully elected second chamber. Stephen voted for a fully elected replacement of the House of Lords.

Commenting on the vote, Stephen said, "I'm delighted by this historic vote which marks the start of the completion of Lords reform set in train by Asquith and Lloyd George in 1911. There haven't been many occasions in my first two years as a Lib Dem MP that my own party policy has been put into effect, but this is one of them. A fully democratic second chamber is essential in a 21st century democracy. Maybe the Commons will now wake up to the fact that its electoral system and government scrutiny powers also need radical reform."

MPs overwhelmingly backed proposals for a fully elected second chamber by a majority of 179 votes. The government's preferred option of having 50% of members appointed, with 50% elected was rejected by 263 votes.