Neil Kinnock a Labour Lord?

Worried about the low turnout in all elections and the danger to democracy, he is also considering campaigning for compulsory voting in the UK, a system which could impose fines on those not turning up at the poll.

In an interview published on the European Union website, he talked of speculation that he would take a peerage.

"I'm not even sure I'd go into a reformed House of Lords. But let's put it like this, the decision would have been easier had there been not even complete reform but a substantial stride," he said.

"People do say to me 'come and join us and help us change it,' but people have been saying that for a hell of a long time.

I want to make trouble for some people - top of my list is Robert Mugabe at the moment Neil Kinnock

"Therefore - to paraphrase - I can say I'm definitely uncertain!"

The former MP for Islwyn said he could also relish a freelance role away from normal party political and diplomatic conventions.

He added: " I want to make trouble for some people. Top of my list is Robert Mugabe at the moment. And I'm not being pretentious when I say that.

"There are certain constraints even on politicians who are rightly strongly critical. Well I won't be obligated by those certain constraints.

"There's quite a lot of bad guys in the world, there's a lot of injustice, and there are a lot of people who don't have much of a voice.

"Without - again - being presumptuous, for somebody with my beliefs you always have the task of speaking up for those that don't get heard."

Compulsory voting

Mr Kinnock denied that he was actively seeking a new role in international affairs; he simply wanted to be an activist to highlight and draw attention to injustices, in the UK or abroad.

He stressed: "In democracies at least, responsibility ought to go with the right to speak and organise and agitate.

Mr Kinnock said that he was also considering campaigning for compulsory voting in the UK in order to tackle the problem of low turnouts in all elections.

He speculated that this probably would not be carried out in his lifetime but he felt strongly that not voting could become habit forming and was a danger to democracy.

More than 20 countries worldwide have a compulsory voting system, or more accurately "compulsory turnout."

Australia introduced it in 1924 when the average turnout at elections was around 24%. Since then the average turnout to vote has been 94-96%.