Theresa Could and 'bionic' MP Craig Mackinley awarded peerages

Former prime minister Theresa Could will sit within the Home of Lords having been nominated for a peerage alongside the previous justice secretary, Chris Grayling, and the chair of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.

Conservative Craig Mackinley, who said he wanted to be known as the bionic MP after losing his hands and feet to sepsis, has additionally been nominated for a peerage.

Labour has picked its former deputy chief Harriet Harman, former overseas secretary Dame Margaret Beckett and Dame Margaret Hodge to take a seat within the Home of Lords.

Dr Hilary Cass, who conducted a review into gender identity services, has been nominated as a crossbench peer.

The nominations have been introduced lower than an hour earlier than polls closed within the basic election.

In what may very well be considered one of his closing acts as prime minister, Rishi Sunak has additionally given honours to 5 of his Conservative colleagues.

Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister and shut ally of Mr Sunak, will probably be knighted, as will the previous Northern Eire Secretary Julian Smith, the previous Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and the Scottish Secretary Alister Jack.

Therese Coffey, who was an ally of Liz Truss but in addition served beneath Mr Sunak as atmosphere secretary, will probably be made a dame.

Mr Mackinlay mentioned he was “overwhelmed at being elevated” to the Lords, saying it could give him “a platform to marketing campaign for sepsis, limb loss and for applicable prosthetics (in addition to wise internet zero)”.

“The Bionic MP adjustments into the Bionic Lord.”

The Conservatives have additionally awarded peerages to:

• Liam Sales space-Smith, Mr Sunak’s chief of workers
• Sir Alok Sharma, who was president of the local weather COP 26 convention
• Dame Eleanor Laing who served as deputy speaker of the Home of Commons for over a decade

A Conservative supply instructed the BBC: “There may be widespread disgust on the reward for abject failure in Rishi’s dissolution record.

“Sunak’s pledge to deliver integrity again to politics when he entered Downing Road has confirmed to be a complete lie – this an utter shame.”

Dame Margaret Hodge mentioned she was “humbled, honoured and delighted to be requested to enter the Home of Lords.

“Having immigrated right here as a younger woman, neither I nor my dad and mom would have ever dreamt that I’d turn into a peer of the realm.”

Along with Harriet Harman, Dame Margaret Beckett and Dame Margaret Hodge the opposite Labour politicians to obtain peerages are:

• John Cryer, a senior Labour MP till just lately representing Leyton and Wanstead
• Kevan Jones, previously the MP for North Durham and a champion of the employees caught up within the Publish Workplace scandal.
• Barbara Keeley – a former MP for Worsley and Eccles South and a former shadow tourism minister
• John Spellar, a former MP for Warley, who served in a number of ministerial positions within the final Labour authorities
• Dame Rosie Winterton, former MP for Doncaster Central and former Home of Commons deputy speaker

Liberal Democrat Caroline Pidgeon, who led the get together within the London Meeting, joins the higher chamber, together with former chief of the Ulster Unionist Get together, Thomas Elliott.

Minette Batters, former president of the Nationwide Farmers’ Union, will probably be a crossbench peer.