Campbell calls for reform call after honours probe

9.55.19am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Jul 2007

Sir Menzies said Lords reform was crucial

There should be a "wholesale review" of the laws on peerages in the wake of the cash-for-honours inquiry, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has said. He said the Electoral Commission should be strengthened and the House of Lords made "wholly, or mainly" elected. "I think what we need now is a wholesale review of the law in relation to this matter. "We need to have proper regulation that's properly enforced by a revamped, strengthened Electoral Commission and of course right at the heart of this is to have reform of the House of Lords so that it's either wholly, or mainly an elected chamber."

Sir Menzies has said he believes the issue had "diminished politicians and politics in the minds of the public" and total transparency is needed.