Lords reform has provoked debate and policy initiatives for more than 100 years.
Labours reforms of 1999, which saw the removal of the majority of hereditary peers, were the most significant reforms of the House of Lords for decades.

But reform remains unfinished business. Labour’s general election manifesto of 2005 pledged to further reform the Lords to make it effective, legitimate and more representative without challenging the primacy of the House of Commons.

The new Government White Paper, the product of months of intensive discussions coordinated by Jack Straw MP, Leader of the House of Commons, seeks to build a consensus to tackle the issue of Lords reform.

Watch Jack Straw explain the new White Paper in this 4-minute video webcast.