THE shape of the reformed House of Lords has split East Lancashire MPs -- just as it split the rest of Parliament.

The Government's plans for Lords reform were plunged into confusion last night as MPs rejected all options for change, including Tony Blair's preferred choice of an all appointed chamber.

With peers backing a fully appointed Upper House by 335 votes to 110, the series of votes in both Houses produced no consensus for change and left prospects for early reform in grave doubt.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw wants an all or mainly appointed second chamber while Rossendale and Darwen's Janet Anderson and Burnley's Peter Pike are adamant every single "senator" should be nominated. Hyndburn's Greg Pope and Chorley's Lindsay Hoyle want to scrap the whole thing.

Ribble Valley's Nigel Evans wants a largely elected chamber and Pendle's Gordon Prentice wants it all elected.

Today the members of the joint committee of the Houses of Lords and Commons were pondering results of last night's votes in both chambers on seven different options from all appointed to all elected.

Foreign Secretary Mr Straw has said: "I don't support the idea of an all-elected house and the idea that it is somehow more legitimate. That is a mirage.

"It would lead to the undermining of the House of Commons. We have a vibrant democracy based in the Commons where even Cabinet ministers have, unusually, a first duty to represent constituents in Blackburn, Burnley or Hyndburn.

"I am in favour of an all or mainly appointed second chamber. I can live with a minority of elected members."

Janet Anderson MP said: "I am in favour of an all-appointed house. I hope that we can find some way of ensuring regional representation within it."

Mr Pope said: "I want to see the House of Lords totally abolished. We don't need two chambers, one will do."

Mr Evans said: "I certainly don't want an all-appointed house because the Prime Minister would appoint it.

"I think we need a mainly elected house -- 80 or 60 per cent with a minority of nominees. We also need a new system of nominating these tiers to keep Downing Street's grubby little hands off the process."