The government has named 30 new Labour appointees to the House of Lords, including former MPs and loyal supporters of Sir Keir Starmer. Among them is Sue Gray, once the prime minister’s chief of staff, now confirmed as a peer. Her appointment comes just two months after her departure from government, which followed internal disputes regarding her role and influence.
The Conservatives also added six new peers, including former deputy prime minister Therese Coffey and Toby Young, associate editor of The Spectator. The Liberal Democrats rounded out the list with two peers, bringing the total new appointments to 38. The list notably includes 18 men and 20 women, reflecting a push toward more balanced representation.
Labour’s Additions to the Lords
A notable number of Labour’s selections are former MPs who either stepped down or lost their seats in past elections. Among them are Thangam Debbonaire, Julie Elliot, Lyn Brown, and Steve McCabe. Luciana Berger, who lost her seat in 2019 after leaving Labour over antisemitism concerns under former leader Jeremy Corbyn, will also join the Lords. Berger returned to the party in 2023, welcomed back by Sir Keir Starmer.
Additionally, Phil Wilson and Margaret Curran, who both lost their seats in previous elections, are set to take seats in the upper chamber. Mike Katz, chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, was also appointed and expressed his commitment to battling antisemitism, describing it as “toxic racism.”
A Shift in the Balance of Power?
The Labour Party has long been vocal about reforming the House of Lords. While previous plans to abolish the 805-member chamber have been scaled back, Labour remains committed to significant changes. Current proposals include removing hereditary peers, setting a retirement age for members, and introducing stricter participation rules.
A Labour source has stated that the Conservatives have historically “stuffed the House of Lords,” creating a “serious imbalance” that needs correcting. To push through legislation effectively in the Lords, Labour will need to build influence among the chamber’s composition, where Conservatives hold the most seats with 273. Labour currently accounts for 187 seats, while the Liberal Democrats control 78.
Conservative and Lib Dem Appointments
On the Conservative side, longtime party figures are joining the ranks. Therese Coffey, former deputy prime minister under Liz Truss, has been appointed despite losing her seat in July’s election. Rachel Maclean, previously housing minister, will also move to the Lords after losing her Redditch seat in 2024.
Toby Young, a journalist and noted free-speech advocate, joins the Conservative peers. Meanwhile, Nigel Biggar, a moral theologian and defender of colonialism, revealed his Conservative leanings alongside his appointment.
The Liberal Democrats’ new additions include Sheffield City Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed and Mark Pack, the party’s current president and a long-serving campaigner.
What’s Next for the Lords?
For Labour, these appointments signal a strategic move to strengthen their position in the upper chamber, a vital step toward pushing their legislative agenda. However, significant challenges remain, as the Conservatives still hold the majority, and crossbench peers—unaffiliated with any party—bring additional complexity.
This latest wave of appointments hints at the evolving dynamics within the House of Lords, highlighting both the need for reform and the importance of maintaining balance in one of the UK’s oldest institutions. With these changes, all eyes will now be on how the new peers influence the direction of parliament in the months to come.