MPs have voted to allow coalition plans to change the House of Lords to progress through parliament, despite a huge Conservative rebellion. Earlier the government was forced to abandon its planned timetable for the legislation.

The bill, which would create a mainly elected second chamber, will now be considered in the autumn. The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Simon Hughes MP, told Today presenter John Humphrys said there would be consequences for their coalition partners if the prime minister and the Conservative party failed to secure the reforms.

"The one thing that is obvious that the Tories desperately want is the Boundary Commission proposals to go through which is an advantage to them. We signed up to a deal and we have honoured our deal. They have to honour their deal, it's a matter for them how they do it."

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