Peers threaten to revolt over plans to scrap law lords

Tony Blair faces his most serious threat yet from peers today over proposals to replace the law lords and abolish the centuries-old post of Lord Chancellor.

Critics of the scheme are threatening to back a motion by the former law lord Lord Lloyd of Berwick to put the Bill before a select committee before it goes through the normal legislative process.

The Constitutional Reform Bill, which would set up a commission to appoint judges, has been criticised by Lord Woolf, the Lord Chief Justice, and has run intoopposition from judges and barristers.

A defeat for the Government coulddelay the legislation and the prospect provoked a determined response yesterday from Peter Hain, the Leader of the Commons. He warned that if the Lords killed the Bill tonight, it would be reintroduced in the Commons and the Parliament Act would be invoked.

The legislation could then be pushed through before the next general election.

Mr Hain said: "The Constitutional Reform Bill is a vital package of reforms to increase the independence of the judiciary and establish a proper separation between law makers and judges - modernising our antiquated structures to fit the 21st century.

"[The Tory leader] Michael Howard's lieutenants are deliberately inciting the Lords to defy the elected House of Commons over this legislation," Mr Hain said. "This is anti-democratic and in breach of constitutional convention.

"The Tories are mobilising their majority in the Lords to overcome their minority in the elected Commons in defiance of the general election outcome.

"This is totally unacceptable and the Government is determined to continue with its modernising reforms."If the amendments committing the Bill to a select committee is carried under Michael Howard's instruction then we will pull the Bill and put it through the Commons first," he said.

Alan Duncan, the Tory constitutional affairs spokesman, said: "Their lordships have to make up their own minds; I would like them just to bin the whole thing. It is dangerous for justice in this country." He told GMTV: "You see a bulldozer? You see justice? You've got one big thing heading towards something else and they are happy to flatten anything in their way in terms of the constitution or justice just for the sake of this childish radical momentum."