The present Government has re-lit the blue touch paper of House of Lords reform, starting with the partial abolition of the hereditary peers in 1999. It has continued to burn slowly. In a democracy, there should arguably be no contest between the legitimacy of an elected and an appointed second chamber. However, in the United Kingdom the issue is clouded with unresolved questions over powers, systems of election and scope of prime ministerial patronage. Hybrid solutions abound, all with their champions. But when given an opportunity in early 2003, the House of Commons could not resolve the matter of Lords’ composition. The end of what was begun is not yet in sight.