It is thought that Gordon Brown will elevate to the House of Lords any one who is prepared to vote for him at the next election. Although this could bring about a large increase in the number of unelected peers, it is not considered large enough to pose any major problems.

"What we are suggesting," said the PM, "Is really quite revolutionary. This will give ordinary Labour voters the opportunity to shape their own futures in a way that mere democracy could never hope to do. Ordinary voters will for once be truly able, through the ballot box, to bring about real change."

"We are hopeful that natural Labour voters who have strayed from 'the fold' during the past few years will return in massive numbers. And what is more, this policy is very much in keeping with current Labour values and ethics. After all the country is governed right now by an unelected Prime Minister, an unelected deputy Prime Minister and by an administration packed with unelected peers."