The proposals will now undergo further scrutiny in the Lords, where they are expected to face tough opposition.

Donors and “cronies” should be removed from the House of Lords, an SNP MP has said, as he called for the upper chamber to be abolished altogether. Pete Wishart described Parliament’s second chamber as an “absurd embarrassment” and criticised the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill for not going far enough.

MEMBERS of Parliament have voted to remove hereditary peers from the House of Lords, but rejected an amendment from the Conservative MP Gavin Williamson to abolish the parliamentary seats for the Lords Spiritual ( News, 1 November ).

Cross party support expressed for abolishing the bishops' bench entirely in debate on reforming the House of Lords

MPs are to consider calls to remove the Church of England bishops from the House of Lords and introduce a mandatory retirement age for peers. Conservative former minister Sir Gavin Williamson has tabled amendments in a bid to press Labour to both honour manifesto commitments and then go further in the party’s efforts to reform the upper chamber.