Sir Keir Starmer has nominated his former top adviser Sue Gray for a peerage.
Ms Gray, whose report into the partygate scandal contributed to the downfall of former prime minister Boris Johnson, is among 30 new Labour peerages announced ahead of Christmas to redress the party “imbalance” in the House of Lords.
The Conservatives have nominated six people, and the Liberal Democrats two.
Other notable names include:
• Carwyn Jones – former Labour Welsh first minister
• Thangam Debbonaire – former Labour shadow cabinet minister who lost her seat unexpectedly at the general election
• Dame Therese Coffey – former Conservative deputy prime minister
• Toby Young – founder and director of the Free Speech Union, and associate editor of The Spectator.
Ms Gray was widely expected to be nominated after leaving her role as Sir Keir’s chief of staff in October following an internal power struggle in Downing Street.
Toby Young. File pic: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
The former civil servant was then appointed to a newly created nations and regions position within Number 10, however, it was confirmed in November she would not be taking up the role.
In 2022, Labour unveiled proposals to abolish the House of Lords and replace it with a “reformed upper chamber”.
However, ahead of the general election this year, the plans were scaled back, with Sir Keir instead pledging to remove the 92 hereditary peers and introduce an age cap of 80.
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Ex-Labour shadow minister Thangam Debbonaire lost her seat to Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer. Pic:…
