MPs have criticised the government's latest plan to reform the Lords.

For the first time an outsider will be elected to join the upper house but government legislation means the person will only be allowed to stand if they have a hereditary title.

Following the death of Lord Oxfuird last week a by-election will be held in the upper house to enable one of the hereditary peers who lost their seat in 1999 to re-take their place.

The bizarre arrangement was part of the compromise deal for the first stage of Lords reform, put in place while agreement was reached over the final make-up of the house.

Lawyers representing some of the peers who lost their seats has warned they may sue the government for £1 million each.