Keir Starmer Plans New Peerage List to Strengthen Labour’s Influence

Keir Starmer is preparing to announce a new list of peerages aimed at enhancing Labour’s influence in the House of Lords. This initiative comes as part of a broader strategy to secure support for critical legislation, including a proposed bill to abolish hereditary peerages, which has faced opposition from the Conservative Party.

The prime minister’s latest peerage nominations will include several Labour allies, with former policy chief Liz Lloyd set to be appointed as a minister in the upper house after her departure from No. 10 Downing Street. Starmer’s previous peerage list, released in December 2022, resulted in the elevation of two dozen Labour figures, such as former Downing Street chief of staff Sue Gray and former shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire.

Government sources indicate that the new peerage list could be unveiled as early as October 2023. The aim is to rebalance the House of Lords, which currently features 285 Conservative peers compared to 209 Labour peers. Even with the expected removal of 44 hereditary Conservative peers, the Tories would still maintain a numerical advantage, prompting No. 10 to consider appointing enough new peers to address this discrepancy.

The reshuffle in Starmer’s cabinet also includes significant changes in economic policy leadership. With a challenging economic backdrop ahead of the upcoming budget, Starmer has created two new roles within his team. Darren Jones has been appointed as the chancellor’s deputy, responsible for daily operations, while Minouche Shafik, a former chief of the Bank of England, has been named chief economic adviser.

Despite concerns regarding potential conflicts between these changes and the position of Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, allies assert that she has been involved in discussions about the new structure. Senior figures at No. 10 have emphasized that the modifications are designed to establish a more effective operation tailored to Starmer’s leadership style, rather than relying on frameworks from prior administrations.

The restructuring process began following the local elections in May 2023 and was finalized by early July. Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, initiated the Future Governance Forum to devise proposals for the new operational structure. Vidhya Alakeson, who serves as deputy chief of staff, drafted a report on potential changes that was presented to Starmer in May.

Lloyd’s exit from Downing Street, occurring just ten months after her appointment, followed internal disagreements about departmental leadership. Stuart Ingham, another policy chief and a long-time aide to Starmer, has also transitioned to a more politically focused role within McSweeney’s team. A new political policy chief is expected to be appointed soon, with Alakeson overseeing day-to-day policy operations in the interim.

As Starmer continues to navigate the complexities of parliamentary dynamics, the upcoming peerage announcements may play a pivotal role in shaping Labour’s legislative agenda and overall strategic direction.