Cronyism by Another Name: Starmer’s Lords Revealed
Remember when Sir Keir Starmer, that paragon of principled politics, stood before the nation promising to “restore standards in public life”? Oh, how we laughed – or at least, you should have. Because here we are, barely five months into his premiership, watching him stuff the House of Lords like a Christmas turkey with Party loyalists, failed MPs, and his own former chief of staff in an act that could only parallel the cronyism of Boris Johnson
The breathtaking audacity of it all! A government that swept into power with 411 seats – a mandate that would make that other neoliberal paragon of politics, Sir Tony Blair blush with envy while counting his Saudi consultancy fees – now finds itself haemorrhaging public support faster than a Tory after a lockdown Party. And what’s their response to this spectacular collapse in popularity? Why, naturally, to appoint a bunch of Starmer’s faithful as new peers to that medieval throwback we call our upper chamber, proving once again that when it comes to rewarding cronies, Red Tories and Blue Tories are merely different shades of the same establishment paint.
Let’s savour the delicious irony: a Party that once campaigned on “abolishing the Lords” now treats it like a cosy retirement home for Party apparatchiks. Sue Gray, fresh from her whirlwind journey through roles that included Starmer’s chief of staff and Second Permanent Secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, barely had time to clear her desk as an “impartial” civil servant before being measured for her ermine. And with her son’s conveniently parachuted victory in Beckenham and Penge and becoming a Labour MP, it seems the family connection is thriving. Anyone would think Starmer owed her a favour…
Among others elevated are former MPs Thangam Debbonaire, Julie Elliott, and Steve McCabe—figures voters decisively removed from office. Luciana Berger, who “Flounce off” leaving Labour in 2019 citing antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn only to be rejected by the public while standing as a Lib Dem candidate and return in 2023, now finds herself gracing the red benches. Then there’s Mike Katz, head of the Jewish Labour Movement, who now promises to combat antisemitism from the comfort of his taxpayer-funded seat.
The parade of new peers reads like a Who’s Who in a Labour loyalty reward scheme. Failed MPs? Check. Party bureaucrats? Check. Anti-Corbyn, check. Former critics turned convenient allies? Double check.
Starmer’s justification? A need to “correct” the Tory majority in the Lords. This from a government with 411 seats in the Commons! Complaining about a rigged game while stacking the deck is a masterclass in political hypocrisy.
Remember that bold promise to abolish the 805-member Lords? Well, that’s been watered down to removing hereditary peers and introducing an 80-year age limit – truly revolutionary stuff that would have William the Conqueror nodding in approval. Meanwhile, these new peers will enjoy their £361 daily tax-free allowance while the cost-of-living crisis continues to savage ordinary people’s lives.
The House of Lords isn’t just an anachronism; it’s a monument to everything wrong with Britain’s democratic system. Unelected legislators, chosen for loyalty over merit, wield power with no public accountability. This system is a breeding ground for cronyism, where patronage trumps principle, and the elite protect their own.
With his historic Commons majority, Starmer had the chance to lead genuine reform – an elected second chamber, term limits, transparency, and an end to the political rewards system. Instead, he’s chosen to perpetuate the status quo, prioritising short-term political gains over the long-term health of democracy, oh, and to finalise a few backroom deals by the look of it.
The tragedy here isn’t just broken promises; it’s the missed opportunity for change. This isn’t reform; it’s reinforcement. And the public sees it for what it is.
Labour isn’t alone in this orgy of patronage. The Tories, with their own six appointments, including ex-deputy PM Thérèse Coffey and Toby Young (whose résumé includes free school cheerleading and controversial tweets), remain unapologetically establishment in their nominations. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats, always keen to remind us of their existence, have added two names to the mix.
What’s needed isn’t more peers – it’s the courage to finally implement genuine democratic reform.
But perhaps most importantly, we need to hold parties to account when they conveniently forget their reformist principles upon achieving power. Because if we don’t, we’ll be stuck with this peculiarly British form of democratic pantomime, where promises of reform are made during elections only to be quietly shelved once they park their bums on those warn-out benches of the commons while rewarding their outriders with ermine robes.
So here’s to Sir Keir and his merry band of peers-in-waiting. They’ve managed to achieve something truly remarkable: making the Conservative Party’s approach to democratic reform look almost honest by comparison. At least the Tories never pretended to be anything other than defenders of the establishment and a big bunch of crooks.
At this stage the question isn’t whether Labour will reform the Lords – it’s whether they’ll leave any room in it for future governments to add their own cronies. Though given their current popularity ratings, that might not be a problem they need to worry about for much longer.
As for those who believed the promise of democratic renewal? Fool us once, shame on them. Fool us twice, shame on us
And here’s that full Christmas list of peers. Enjoy the festive feast of hypocrisy…
Political Peerages December 2024
The King has been graciously pleased to signify His intention of conferring Peerages of the United Kingdom for Life.
Nominations from the Leader of the Labour Party:
- Professor Wendy Alexander FRSE – Vice Chair of the British Council, former Member of the Scottish Parliament for Paisley North and previously Labour Leader in the Scottish Parliament.
- Sir Brendan Barber – former General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress and former chair of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.
- Luciana Berger – former Member of Parliament for Liverpool Wavertree and current Chair of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
- Mary Bousted – formerly the Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), and education policy adviser.
- Kevin Brennan – former Member of Parliament for Cardiff West and former Minister of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
- Lyn Brown – former Member of Parliament for West Ham and former Shadow Minister.
- Dinah Caine OBE CBE – Chair of Camden STEAM, formerly Chair of Goldsmiths University and CEO and Chair of Creative Skillset.
- Kay Carberry CBE – former Assistant General Secretary of the British Trades Union Congress (TUC).
- Margaret Curran – former Member of Parliament for Glasgow East and formerly Minister within the Scottish Executive.
- Thangam Debbonaire – former Member of Parliament for Bristol West and former Shadow Secretary of State.
- Julie Elliott – former Member of Parliament for Sunderland Central and former Shadow Minister.
- David Evans – former Labour Party Regional Director, Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary of the Labour Party 2020-2024.
- Sue Gray – former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister and former Cabinet Office Second Permanent Secretary.
- Theresa Griffin – former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for North West England.
- Anji Hunter – Senior Advisor at Edelman, and former Head of Government Relations in Downing Street.
- Carwyn Jones – former Member of the Senedd (MS) for Bridgend and First Minister of Wales.
- Mike Katz – National Chair of Jewish Labour Movement and a former Camden Councillor.
- Gerard Lemos CMG CBE – Social Policy expert and Chair of English Heritage, Chair of National Savings & Investments (NS&I), and Chair of London Institute of Banking and Finance.
- Alison Levitt KC – Master of the Bench of the Inner Temple. Previously Principal Legal Advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions and a Circuit Judge specialising in serious crime, including rape.
- Anne Longfield CBE – Campaigner for children and formerly served as the Children’s Commissioner for England. Founder and Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives.
- Deborah Mattinson – former Director of Strategy to Sir Keir Starmer. Co-founder of BritainThinks.
- Steve McCabe – former Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hall Green and Birmingham Selly Oak, and former Government Whip.
- Claude Moraes OBE – former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for London and chair of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee.
- Wendy Nichols – UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Convenor and Branch Secretary and Labour Councillor.
- Simon Pitkeathley – Currently the Chief Executive of Camden Town Unlimited and Euston Town, formerly the Mayor of London’s ‘Champion for Small Business’.
- Dame Anne Marie Rafferty DBE FRCN – Professor of nursing policy and former President of the Royal College of Nursing.
- Krish Raval OBE – Founding Director of Faith in Leadership.
- Marvin Rees OBE – former Mayor of Bristol and Head of Bristol City Council. Former journalist, voluntary sector manager and NHS public health manager.
- Revd Dr Russell David Rook OBE – Partner at the Good Faith Partnership and Anglican priest.
- Phil Wilson – former Member of Parliament for Sedgefield, and former Opposition Assistant Whip.
Nominations from the Leader of the Conservative Party:
- Nigel Biggar CBE – Regius Professor Emeritus of Moral Theology at the University of Oxford and Anglican priest.
- Joanne Cash – Co-founder of Parent Gym and barrister serving as the Southeastern Circuit Junior and a member of the Bar Human Rights Committee.
- Rt Hon Dame Thérèse Coffey PhD – former Deputy Prime Minister and former Member of Parliament for Suffolk Coastal.
- Roger Evans – former Deputy Mayor of London and former member of the London Assembly for Havering and Redbridge.
- Rachel Maclean – former Member of Parliament for Redditch and former Minister of State for Housing and Planning.
- Toby Young – founder and director of the Free Speech Union, and an associate editor of The Spectator.
Nominations from the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party:
Dr Mark Pack – current President of the Liberal Democrats.
Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed MBE – current Sheffield City Councillor and former chair of the Liberal Democrat Carers Commission.
Support Independent Journalism Today
Our unwavering dedication is to provide you with unbiased news, diverse perspectives, and insightful opinions. We're on a mission to ensure that those in positions of power are held accountable for their actions, but we can't do it alone. Labour Heartlands is primarily funded by me, Paul Knaggs, and by the generous contributions of readers like you. Your donations keep us going and help us uphold the principles of independent journalism. Join us in our quest for truth, transparency, and accountability – donate today and be a part of our mission!
Like everyone else, we're facing challenges, and we need your help to stay online and continue providing crucial journalism. Every contribution, no matter how small, goes a long way in helping us thrive. By becoming one of our donors, you become a vital part of our mission to uncover the truth and uphold the values of democracy.
While we maintain our independence from political affiliations, we stand united against corruption, injustice, and the erosion of free speech, truth, and democracy. We believe in the power of accurate information in a democracy, and we consider facts non-negotiable.
Your support, no matter the amount, can make a significant impact. Together, we can make a difference and continue our journey toward a more informed and just society.
Thank you for supporting Labour Heartlands