Starmer appoints 26 new peers despite Lords reform pledges

Sir Keir Starmer has nominated 26 new peers to the House of Lords in one of his final acts before leaving office on Monday. The list, which the King is expected to formalise, contains 16 Labour nominees, five Liberal Democrats, three Conservatives and two cross-benchers. Among the new political appointees are broadcaster June Sarpong, former union chief Christina McAnea, former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald and retired senior judge Sir Brian Leveson.

The most prominent nominee is London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, who is mid-way through his third term. A government source praised Khan as "a brilliant mayor who has transformed London for the better," citing cuts to violent crime, improved air quality, the delivery of the Elizabeth Line and the building of council homes. A spokesperson for the mayor said Khan was "honoured to be given a peerage" and would devote his energy to "building a fairer, safer and greener London." He is not seeking a ministerial role under the incoming government and has not decided whether to run for a fourth term in 2028.

For businesses and investors operating in the UK, the composition of the Lords matters because the chamber acts as the final legislative veto on economic regulations and public policy. However, its democratic legitimacy is facing acute scrutiny. Andy Burnham, who is due to become prime minister on Monday, told The House magazine last month that he does not believe the UK can justify having half of its national legislature unelected. "I think this is something that is, in many ways, quite scandalous," he said.

This expansion of the chamber directly clashes with Labour's previous stance on institutional reform. In 2022, the party pledged to abolish the Lords entirely and replace it with a reformed upper chamber. That promise was subsequently watered down, though the government did axe the 92 seats reserved for hereditary peers this year.

The latest appointments have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, whose party received no nominations, called the list "the uniparty writ large" and argued it made the upper house even less representative. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed his five new peers, stating they would help "fix our broken politics, including reforming the House of Lords."

Campaign groups echoed the frustration over the gap between political rhetoric and action. "The next prime minister needs to make good on the promise of reform and turn the Lords into a smaller, democratic chamber that is more representative of and accountable to the people of this country," said Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society.