The debate about reform of the House of Lords may come to a conclusion this week. Or there again it may not.

It seems to me that democracy is a bit like virginity. Either you have it or you don't. The only way the Lords will attain credibility is if it is elected on a democratic basis, like all other second chambers in the developed world.

The call for a fully elected second chamber will not go away if yet again we fudge the issue.