Sir Keir Starmer triggers fresh cronyism row by appointing 30 new peers to the House of Lords

Controversial Appointments

Sir Keir Starmer has sparked controversy by appointing 30 new peers to the House of Lords, including ex-MPs, union chiefs, and his sacked former chief of staff Sue Gray.

Reaction and Justification

Labour insiders defend the appointments as necessary to balance the chamber, where Tories currently outnumber Labour members. The move comes as part of a push for reform in the House of Lords.

Noteworthy Nominees

The list of new peers includes prominent figures such as ex-Deputy PM Thérèse Coffey, free-speech advocate Toby Young, and former Labour MPs Thangam Debbonaire, Luciana Berger, Julie Elliott, and Kevin Brennan.

Push for Reform

Sir Keir Starmer aims to remove hereditary peers from the House of Lords, labeling them as 'outdated' and emphasizing the need for a more balanced representation in the chamber.