The conservative party has protested against government plans to reform the House of Lords. Party spokesman Oliver Head said that reform of the unelected legislative chamber would marginalize what he described as “the only chamber of parliament these days that is able to stand up to” the prime minister.
If government proposals are agreed it is expected that the 92 hereditary legislators will be removed from parliament, most legislators will be elected instead of appointed, the unwritten conventions which govern the chamber will be codified and the time for which laws passed by the elected chamber can be delayed will be reduced to 60 days.
Many of the unelected lawmakers are expected to use their power as legislators to fiercely resist the democratisation of parliament. Prime minister Tony Blair is personally opposed to the election of members of the second chamber.