Miliband: Make politics accountable

The Foreign Secretary used an article for tomorrow's News of the World to say he believed British politics was "in a mess" and needed a fundamental shake-up.

His intervention, which comes as Labour is braced for a severe battering in Euro and local elections on Thursday, is bound to reignite speculation of a potential bid to oust Gordon Brown.

Mr Miliband said an elected House of Lords and greater powers for local communities should be central to a push to make politics "more accountable, more in touch, less elitist".

And he also took a swipe at anonymous Westminster briefings - after being the target last summer of off-the-record calls for his sacking following another article calling for "radical change" in Labour that was seen as a thinly-veiled leadership bid and attack on Mr Brown.

"Everyone claiming to speak for politicians should be named and should speak on-the-record," he wrote. "There needs to be a new rule; if you are not willing to put your name to it, you didn't say it."

In the short article, he warned: "'Never waste a crisis' is a good guide to getting out of a mess. And British politics has got into a mess. At just the time when our problems need a new approach to politics, the expenses scandal has given people good reason to give up on politics altogether."

Conceding that he was as guilty as others of neglecting the need to "get our House in order", he went on: "Now let's turn the anger into real change.

"We have to start with expenses. Personally I don't care what system we have so long as it is clear, open and credible with the public - and we have to get it done quickly.

"Every legislator should be elected. It is crazy in the 21st century that we still have an unelected House of Lords. And finally, we need to get power out of Westminster and into local communities. 100 years ago our great towns and cities drove Britain forward. Once again they should have the chance to make their own way."