Irvine tires of attire

THE HOUSE of Lords is to be given the chance to vote on whether Lord Irvine of Lairg, the Lord Chancellor, should be allowed to shed his historic costumes of silk tights, cotton breeches and buckled shoes.

In the spirit of reform that he wants to bring to the House, the Lord Chancellor proposed that he should dispense with the ancient costume of his office and replace it with a lounge suit and black lace-up shoes.

The proposal caused dismay among House of Lords traditionalists who warned that it would undermine the seriousness of his office if the highest law officer in the land turned out in a lounge suit.

Earl Ferrers, a former Tory home office minister, sent a letter objecting to the Lord Chancellor's attempt to do away with the tradition when it was discussed last night at a meeting of the Lords Procedure Committee behind closed doors.

Lord Irvine was forced to defend his decision with the Leader of the Lords, Baroness Jay, sitting on his right during a two-hour committee hearing.

Lord Irvine's imperious style has not endeared him to peers and one former Labour minister said he was going too far in abandoning tradition after spending a small fortune through the House on the refurbishment of his grace-and- favour residence in the Lords.