The row over the so-called "peoples' peers" intensified yesterday as it emerged that more than a dozen retiring MPs are set to get seats in the upper House after the election.

Mo Mowlam, Robert Sheldon and Jeff Rooker head the Labour list of nominees and John Major, Sir Edward Heath and Peter Brooke are at the top of the Tory list. Major has, however, signalled he would prefer a period out of politics before entering the upper house.

Paddy Ashdown and Robert Maclennan are the Lib Dem MPs likely to get a peerage.