The UK government has appointed 30 new Labour peers which includes former MPs and those loyal to Sir Keir Starmer. Sue Gray, former Downing Street chief of staff, resigned from her position two months ago and will take on a new role in the government. Her appointment comes amid internal rows around her influence and was confirmed earlier this week. The Conservatives got six new peers, including Toby Young, the associate editor of The Spectator, and former deputy prime minister Therese Coffey. The Lib Dems got two peers appointed to the House of Lords.
The list of new peers includes 18 men and 20 women. A number of Labour MPs who have either lost their seats or stepped down from their position have been appointed – including Thangam Debbonaire, Julie Elliot, Lyn Brown, Steve McCabe, Luciana Berger, Phil Wilson, and Margaret Curran. Berger stood unsuccessfully as a Lib Dem candidate in 2019 after leaving Labour because of concerns over antisemitism. She rejoined Labour in 2023 after being welcomed back by Sir Keir.
Mike Katz, a newly appointed Labour peer who is the national chairman of Jewish Labour Movement, said that he will be using his position to fight against the “toxic racism” of antisemitism. Lords will now be entitled to a tax-free £361 daily allowance plus travel expenses when they attend Parliament.
Last month, Gray had declined a position as the prime minister’s envoy to the nations and regions after departing as Sir Keir’s chief of staff. She stated that it was her decision to leave but her departure came after articles and briefings against her, including a controversy around her salary. Gray’s son, Liam Conlon, was elected as the MP for Beckenham and Penge in July.
Labour said in 2022 that it planned to eliminate the 805-member House of Lords and introduce a “new, reformed upper chamber.” However, this was watered down before July’s election, with Labour agreeing to consult on plans for an alternative second chamber. The party also vowed to introduce new rules on participation and a new process to make it easier to remove “disgraced” peers. According to a Labour source, the Conservatives “stuffed the House of Lords, creating a serious imbalance” that needs to be “corrected
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