Jack Straw introduces constitutional reform Bill

• Commons Hansard: Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill
• Video and Audio: Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill
• Bills before Parliament: Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill
• Topical issues: Constitution
• About Parliament: Bill stages

Amongst the proposals which will affect the Lords are:

• By-elections held on the death of an hereditary peer to elect a replacement will come to an end which means the number of hereditaries will eventually decline
• Life peers will be able to resign
• Peers could vote to expel or suspend colleagues who break House rules

Other areas of reform proposed include:

• A code of conduct for government special advisers
• Parliament would have the final say over international treaties
• The Prime Minister's role in appointing supreme court judges will be scrapped
• Lifting of the ban on demonstrations outside Parliament