Plans are well advanced for Starmer to approve a substantial number of new peerages to party veterans including former MPs Julie Elliott, Lyn Brown, Kevin Brennan and ousted frontbencher Thangam Debbonaire. No peep on Labour’s plan to publicly justify every peerage awarded…
Labour is defending the political peerages as insertions of “proven workhorses in parliament” into complicated Lords procedures as Downing Street considers whether to roll them out alongside the New Year honours. The FT initially claimed that sacked Sue Gray wasn’t sure to be on the list which has since been clarified – she is. As Guido reported in October Gray herself was absolutely sure of it…
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”