Keir Starmer Appoints 30 New Labour Peers

Sue Gray, known for her role in the Partygate investigation, has been appointed as one of 30 new Labour peers in the House of Lords, a move that has sparked controversy over cronyism as Sir Keir Starmer had previously pledged to reduce the size of the Lords. Alongside Gray, prominent figures such as Thangam Debbonaire and Luciana Berger have also received peerages. Starmer's nominations aim to address the current imbalance in the Lords, where the Conservative Party holds a significant majority of 273 members compared to Labour's 187. Critics argue that this move undermines Starmer's commitment to reform, particularly given Gray's brief and tumultuous tenure as his chief of staff. The new peers include a combination of former MPs and trade union leaders, with the Conservatives also nominating six members, including Dame Thérèse Coffey. This reshuffle comes as Starmer seeks to push legislation to remove hereditary peers from the chamber.