Labour is to reform the postal voting system to stop cheating after the General Election, a senior peer revealed today.

Lord Rooker, former MP for Birmingham Perry Barr and now a Home Office Minister, said Labour would introduce changes if it wins the General Election.

The comments suggest Labour is set to make a major U-turn, after previously insisting the system is fine as it is.

It follows last month's court hearing which resulted in the dismissal of six Labour city councillors, after a judge ruled they had rigged local election results.

Richard Mawrey QC, the Election Commissioner, said there had been a " Birminghamwide" campaign of fraud.

But his comments were then dismissed by Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford, who told the House of Commons the judge had got it wrong, and accused Mr Mawrey of making claims which were not supported by the evidence.

Now Lord Rooker has revealed a Labour Government would consider introducing individual voter registration, where everyone in a household has to register separately.

This is expected to reduce the number of people who become registered for postal votes and has been recommended by the Electoral Commission. Lord Rooker also insisted the comments of the judge needed to be taken seriously.

He said: "The remarks of the judge deserve the fullest consideration. The Labour Party takes any accusation of impropriety very seriously and will act against any perpetrators severely."