The reformed House of Lords is likely to include a larger democratic element than previously proposed, Robin Cook has said.

A government white paper suggested that 20 per cent of peers would be elected, but that plan provoked sustained criticism from MPs of all parties.

Speaking on Sunday, the Commons leader said that "something higher is likely to emerge" from the joint committee of MPs and peers set up to consider the way forward.

Cook said the decision would be one for parliament rather than the government.

"I suspect that when it comes to the decision, the House of Commons will want to see a second chamber that certainly has more accountability and a bigger democratic element than has been envisaged so far," he told GMTV's Sunday Programme.

He said the reformed Lords would not be a competitor with the Commons.

"We need a partner, to make sure that together we do an effective job in scrutinising legislation, in holding government to account, but for that partner to have legitimacy and authority, that partner also needs to be an expression of public opinion, and needs to a degree to be accountable to the public in order to do it."

Despite the 20 per cent proposal, Cook said the government had no "preferred option" for the eventual outcome.

"I think it will result in a House of Lords that has a significant democratic element within it. How big that is, is a matter for both Houses to come to a decision," he said.

"The proposals have always been that there should be a democratic element. The white paper proposed 20 per cent - I think there's a broad recognition that that figure did not commend itself either to the public or to the Commons.

"I would anticipate that something higher is likely to emerge from this process, but what it will be is a matter for the Commons, it's not a matter for me."