DEMOCRACY campaigners condemned suggestions yesterday that the number of unelected peers would be boosted by Lib Dem MPs ­voters sacked at the election.

The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) called for a fully elected upper chamber after Lib Dem peer Tina Stowell made the prediction on Thursday.

Despite her party being reduced to eight MPs and already having 101 peers, she said senior that Lib Dems who lost their seats were set to be handed a place in the Lords.

Defending the move, Ms Stowell said “this house has never historically reflected party balance.”

Menzies Campbell, Vince Cable and Simon Hughes could all be compensated when Prime Minister David Cameron reveals the list of peerages shortly.

ERS chief executive Katie Ghose said the Lib Dems were already “vastly overrepresented” and new peers would “completely ignore the fact that their support fell dramatically” on May 7.

But the ERS rejected suggestions that the House of Lords should be rebalanced to reflect the results of the election.

Its research showed that would result in an additional 704 peers. At a cost of £115,000 each, the bill could hit £81 million.

Ms Ghose said: “Instead of packing the Lords with more party donors and former MPs, we should recognise the elephant in the room and move to a fully elected upper chamber.

“The House of Lords is in urgent need of reform, and the sooner this archaic house is brought into the 21st century the better.”