"Let's get rid of the Elephant in the Room" - John Leech MP

2.55.24pm GMT Thu 8th Mar 2007

The Lib Dems have campaigned for Lords reform for decades

John Leech MP took part in an historic vote last night to rid Britain of the House of Lords. MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of an 100% elected House of Lords in a move that could spell the end for the last undemocratic part of the world's oldest surviving parliament.

Liberal Democrats turned out to vote in favour of an 80% and 100% elected second chamber despite the wishes of the government to part-preserve the antiquated system that led to the cash-for-peerages scandal. The House of Lords has been the elephant in the room that no-one has dared to talk about for over half a century but it now seems that the Lords' time is up.

Speaking after the momentous vote, John Leech MP said: "This move is long overdue. While we are trying to spread democracy throughout the world, it seems absurd that we are still governed, in part, by a group of people who do not represent the people of this country.

"I am glad that the government appears to have finally agreed that the House of Lords needs to go but the Lib Dems have been campaigning for this for decades.

While this may not be on the top of everyone's agenda, if we want a good government then we need a good and a working democracy"

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