13/05/2005
Labour becomes largest group in Lords
The announcement today of 16 life peerages supporting Labour will see the party gain its largest number of peers in the Upper House.
The creation of a total of 27 new life peerages, eight women and 19 men, include 16 Labour peers, with staunch supporters numbering former Education Secretary Estelle Morris and ex-Minister for Sport Tony Banks, former Cabinet Office Minister Jack Cunningham, former Defence Minister Lewis Moonie and former Scottish Office Minister George Foulkes.
Of the 27 nominations advanced today, six are Conservatives, including ex-Health Secretary Virginia Bottomley and former Education Secretary Gillian Shepherd have been made Baronesses.
Five of those nominated are Liberal Democrats and include former MP for Richmond Park Jenny Tongue.
This is the first time that Labour will have the largest number of peers in the House of Lords with 214 peers under the Labour banner, 211 under Conservative and 74 Liberal Democrats.
However, a narrow margin of two or three Labour peers will still leave the Government with a tough task to pass some contentious legislation in the forthcoming parliamentary session.
Legislation to be brought before the Upper House includes public services reform and the plans for national ID cards.
Click here to see full list of peers.
(SP)
The creation of a total of 27 new life peerages, eight women and 19 men, include 16 Labour peers, with staunch supporters numbering former Education Secretary Estelle Morris and ex-Minister for Sport Tony Banks, former Cabinet Office Minister Jack Cunningham, former Defence Minister Lewis Moonie and former Scottish Office Minister George Foulkes.
Of the 27 nominations advanced today, six are Conservatives, including ex-Health Secretary Virginia Bottomley and former Education Secretary Gillian Shepherd have been made Baronesses.
Five of those nominated are Liberal Democrats and include former MP for Richmond Park Jenny Tongue.
This is the first time that Labour will have the largest number of peers in the House of Lords with 214 peers under the Labour banner, 211 under Conservative and 74 Liberal Democrats.
However, a narrow margin of two or three Labour peers will still leave the Government with a tough task to pass some contentious legislation in the forthcoming parliamentary session.
Legislation to be brought before the Upper House includes public services reform and the plans for national ID cards.
Click here to see full list of peers.
(SP)
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19 March 2004
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Hereditary peers win reprieve on Labour retreat
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26 April 2006
Lord Kinnock receives driving ban
Lord Kinnock has been banned from driving for six months. The former Labour leader had admitted to two speeding offences on the M4 motorway last year. The 64-year-old was caught breaking a temporary 40mph speed limit last June, when he was caught driving at 47mph. He was caught again in November, travelling at 60mph in a 50mph zone.
Lord Kinnock receives driving ban
Lord Kinnock has been banned from driving for six months. The former Labour leader had admitted to two speeding offences on the M4 motorway last year. The 64-year-old was caught breaking a temporary 40mph speed limit last June, when he was caught driving at 47mph. He was caught again in November, travelling at 60mph in a 50mph zone.
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