Cook signals Lords shake-up

London - The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, yesterday gave a clear signal that a measure to scrap the voting rights…

London - The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, yesterday gave a clear signal that a measure to scrap the voting rights of hereditary peers will be in the next Queen's Speech.

Labour has so far failed to put a timetable on its commitment to abolish the voting rights of hereditary peers - a manifesto pledge. Mr Cook yesterday denounced hereditary peers as "medieval lumber" as he addressed the Trades Union Congress in Brighton.

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