Peter Hain has compared parliament to a private club and called for a radical overhaul of British politics.

In a speech to Westminster journalists, the Commons leader warned more had to be done to make politics more accessible to the wider public.

"Parliament is not a private club. We are here as servants of the people, and we need to acknowledge that there is an enormous gap between the way we see ourselves and the way the public views us," he said.

In the speech on Tuesday night, he said that the government's overhaul of the hours and calendar for the Commons should now be followed up with ways of engaging with the public.

"Modernisation must not be confined to the Westminster bubble. Parliament must find new ways of addressing, articulating and responding to issues of public concern," he said.

Hain announced he is to undertake a series of public consultations to gauge views on how Westminster life is perceived.With condemnation of spin came calls for a greater use of technology and openness by politicians.

"If the only time voters hear from politicians is during an election campaign, they will regard it like the intrusive Saturday morning phone call asking if you would like a free quotation on new windows," he said.

There also came a scathing attack on "traditionalists" and ancient Commons language.

"The fact that visitors are still called 'Strangers' speaks volumes about the out-of-date relationship between the Commons and the public visitor. What is regarded as 'sombre majesty' by traditionalists inside, simply looks like a 'Keep Out' sign to the public outside," he argued.

"We're here only at the tolerance of our voters and, frankly, we need to improve the way we treat them," he said.

He called on journalists to move political debate out of the TV studios and back into the Commons chamber.

"In many respects we still look like an institution more suited to Gladstone's era than an age of instant communication, mass access to information and multiple sources of authority and legitimacy," he said.

"In short, we need a parliament fit for the 21st century. We certainly don't have one now and we will not get one unless we - the politicians - and you - the media - escape the Westminster Bubble and make it happen."