A fully elected House of Lords could be back on the cards under proposals unveiled in parliament on Wednesday.

There is now a great deal of common ground across the political spectrum on the future of the House of Lords Jack Cunningham, committee chairman

The plan is contained the first report by a special committee of peers and MPs set up earlier this year to break the deadlock on Lords reform.

The report sets out seven options ranging from a 100% elected second chamber to one made up entirely of political appointees.

The government was forced back to the drawing board on Lords reform, after its proposals for a partially-elected second chamber were condemned by all sides.

'Future role'

Commons leader Robin Cook has said he wants a broad cross-party consensus on the future composition of the Lords.

The all party joint committee wants the Commons and Lords to debate their suggestions and then vote on the options.

Chairman Jack Cunningham said: "This report marks the completion of the first stage of the Joint Committee's work.

"There is now a great deal of common ground across the political spectrum on the future of the House of Lords.

"In this report we have sought to inform the debates and votes in both Houses by clarifying what we believe should be the future role, powers and nature of the second chamber and identifying the implications of our conclusions for its composition.

"It is in relation to composition that there remains a wide range of views about the best way to create the sort of second chamber that this country needs."