Tony Blair will today reveal that he supports a wholly appointed House of Lords, reports today's Guardian.

The prime minister's decision runs contrary to his party's manifesto commitment to introduce a more democratic and representative second chamber but he will stress that his is a personal view.

Next Tuesday MPs and peers will separately vote on seven different options prepared by a joint committee of both houses of parliament.

Chris Smith, the former cabinet minister, said yesterday: "I fail to see how an all-appointed House can be described as being democratic. Quite simply it isn't."