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Olympic swimmer and activist Sharron Davies has been appointed as one of three new Conservative members of the House of Lords. Known for her outspoken stance against the inclusion of transgender women in female sports categories, Davies was put forward for a peerage by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. The Conservative Party highlighted her contributions both as a celebrated athlete and as an advocate for women’s rights.
Alongside Davies, former cabinet minister John Redwood and journalist Simon Heffer have also received peerages. Davies, who earned a silver medal in swimming at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and secured two Commonwealth gold medals, has been vocal about protecting women’s sport from transgender athlete participation. She denies accusations of transphobia, emphasizing that many female athletes share her view. Upon her nomination, Davies expressed enthusiasm about continuing her advocacy for women’s rights and encouraging youth participation in sports.
In addition to the Conservative appointments, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has nominated 25 new peers, including Iceland supermarket chairman Richard Walker and former Downing Street communications director Matthew Doyle. Labour representatives argue that these new appointments aim to help the party counteract the current Conservative majority in the House of Lords and support the government’s legislative agenda. Despite holding a majority in the House of Commons, Labour is presently outnumbered in the Lords, with 209 peers compared to the Conservatives’ 282.
Labour has criticized the House of Lords for its imbalance, attributing this to the Conservatives’ extensive appointments. They are working on reform efforts that include eliminating the voting rights of hereditary peers—titles inherited through family lineage, of which 92 seats remain. While Leader Starmer supports replacing the House of Lords with an elected Assembly of the Nations and Regions, substantial reforms have yet to be proposed ahead of the next election. Among Labour’s new peers are political figures such as Katie Martin, former chief of staff to Rachel Reeves, and senior London-based politicians including Len Duvall, Brenda Dacres, and Peter John. The Liberal Democrats have nominated several members as well, including Lord Addington and Earl Russell, enabling these hereditary peers to retain their seats after reforms. Party leader Sir Ed Davey stated that his appointees will strive to promote much-needed change, particularly concerning House of Lords reform
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