He tabled a motion calling for the government to bring forward legislation to enable peers to retire, to end by-elections for hereditary peers, to remove members convicted of a serious criminal offence and to put the House of Lords Appointments Commission on a statutory footing.

BBC: Steel calls on ministers to introduce interim reforms

At the conclusion of the debate, peers voted in favour of a motion tabled by Lib Dem peer Lord Steel calling on the government - but not compelling it - to introduce interim reforms to enable peers to retire, to end by-elections for hereditary peers, to remove members convicted of a serious criminal offence and to put the House of Lords Appointments Commission on a statutory footing.

BBC: Lords reform debate: part three

He is also working hard on plans to remove the mystique and patronage surrounding the appointment of judges through the introduction of an independent judicial appointments commission.

ECONOMIST: Scotland