Justice Secretary Jack Straw wants the House of Lords to be elected by proportional representation.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw says that the new democratic House of Lords should be elected by proportional representation, the Daily Telegraph reports.

But he ruled out introducing PR for the House of Commons, saying that while the first past the post system for electing MPs was outdated, it was crucial for a link between voters and constituencies to be maintained.

Instead, he suggested that the electoral system in the Commons should be changed to the Alternative Vote, where voters rank candidates standing for election in their constituency in order of preference.

The last of the hereditary peers is due to be phased out of the Lords, and the Government have promised that plans will be put forward to bring in a fully elected upper chamber. Straw said that Prime Minister Gordon Brown was also planning a referendum on electoral reform if Labour wins the election.

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