Harman loses Lords reform role

Constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman today gave up her responsibilities for overseeing electoral and House of Lords reform - after her husband, Labour treasurer Jack Dromey, called for an inquiry into the "cash for peerages" row.

A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said: "Ms Harman was the one who asked to be relieved of the responsibility for electoral administration to make sure that there wasn't any conflict of interest."