Press release
Dissolution Peerages 2015
The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention of conferring the following Peerages of the United Kingdom for Life.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention of conferring Peerages of the United Kingdom for Life upon the undermentioned:
Nominations from the Leader of the Conservative Party
- James Arbuthnot – former MP for North East Hampshire and Front Bench Minister
- Rt Hon Gregory Barker – former MP for Bexhill and Battle and former Minister of State at the Department for Energy and Climate Change
- Catherine Fall – Deputy Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister
- Simone Finn – Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Trade
- Stephen Gilbert – Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party
- Rt Hon William Hague – former MP for Richmond and former Foreign Secretary
- Robert Hayward OBE – former MP for Kingswood, Board Member of Dignity in Dying and Trustee for the YMCA
- Rt Hon Douglas Hogg QC – former MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham and held several ministerial roles
- Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE – former MP for South Cambridgeshire and former Cabinet Minister
- James Lupton CBE – Chairman of Greenhill Europe and former Co-Treasurer of the Conservative Party
- Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE – CEO of Mitie Group PLC
- Anne McIntosh – former MP for Thirsk and Malton and Chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee
- Michelle Mone OBE – leading entrepreneur and sits on the Board of Directors for The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust
- James O’Shaughnessy – Managing Director of Floreat Education
- Emma Pidding CBE – former Chiltern District Councillor and former Chairman of the National Conservative Convention
- Stuart Polak CBE – Director of the Conservative Friends of Israel
- Councillor Gary Porter – Councillor for South Holland District Council and Chairman of the Local Government Association
- Councillor Elizabeth Redfern – Leader of North Lincolnshire Council
- Rt Hon Andrew Robathan – former MP for South Leicestershire and several Front Bench and government roles
- Kate Rock – Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party
- Councillor Jane Scott OBE – Leader of the Wiltshire Council
- Kevin Shinkwin – longstanding voluntary sector professional
- Philip Smith CBE – Chief Executive of the Association of Conservative Clubs
- Philippa Stroud – Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
- Rt Hon David Willetts – former MP for Havant and several Front Bench roles
- Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt CH – former MP for North West Hampshire and former Cabinet Minister
Nominations from the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party at the time of Dissolution
- Sir Alan Beith – former MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed and former Chair of the Justice Select Committee
- Sharon Bowles – former MEP for South East England
- Sir Malcolm Bruce – former MP for Gordon, and former Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats
- Lorely Burt – former MP for Solihull and former Chair of the Liberal Democrats
- Rt Hon Sir Menzies ‘Ming’ Campbell CH, CBE, QC – former MP for North East Fife and former Leader of the Liberal Democrats
- Lynne Featherstone – former MP for Hornsey and Wood Green and held several ministerial positions
- Don Foster - former MP for Bath and former Liberal Democrat Chief Whip
- Jonny Oates – former Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government
- Shas Sheehan – former Councillor for Kew and involved in several community groups
- Sir Andrew Stunell – former MP for Hazel Grove and former Department for Communities and Local Government Minister
- Dorothy Thornhill MBE – Mayor of Watford; former Councillor and Assistant Headteacher
Nominations from the Leader of the Labour Party at the time of Dissolution
- Rt Hon David Blunkett – former MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough and former Cabinet Minister
- Rt Hon Alistair Darling – former MP for Edinburgh South West and former Cabinet Minister
- Rt Hon Peter Hain – former MP for Neath and former Cabinet Minister
- Rt Hon Tessa Jowell DBE – former MP for Dulwich and West Norwood and former Cabinet Minister
- Spencer Livermore – senior Campaign Strategist for the Labour Party
- Paul Murphy – former MP for Torfaen and former Cabinet Minister
- Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo DBE – former MP for Bristol South and former Minister
- Dave Watts – former MP for St Helens North and former Chair of Parliamentary Labour Party
See also the list of Dissolution Honours 2015.
Notes to editors
All nominations were vetted for propriety by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
Short citations for each nomination are included below:
- James Arbuthnot: Member of Parliament for Wanstead, and later North East Hampshire, 1987 to 2015, taking on a number of influential Front Bench and Parliamentary roles in those years, including Minister of State for Defence Procurement; Opposition Chief Whip; a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee and Chairman of the Defence Select Committee.
- Rt Hon Gregory Barker: Former Member of Parliament for Bexhill and Battle, 2001 to 2015, during which time he was the longest serving UK Energy Minister for 20 years, serving as Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, 2010 to 2014.
- Catherine Fall: Conservative Party professional with 20 years experience. Deputy Chief of Staff to David Cameron as Leader of the Opposition, 2005 to 2010; and to the Prime Minister, 2010 to present.
- Simone Finn: Special Adviser to the government, focusing on industrial relations, efficiency and civil service reform. Former member of the Conservative Party’s Implementation Team prior to the 2010 General Election.
- Stephen Gilbert: Long standing Conservative Party professional with 30 years experience. Currently Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party with responsibility for campaigning; former Political Secretary to Prime Minister David Cameron, 2010 to 2015.
- Rt Hon William Hague: Member of Parliament for Richmond, Yorkshire, 1989 to 2015. Former Conservative Party Leader, 1997 to 2001. Shadow Foreign Secretary, 2005 to 2010; Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State, 2010 to 2014; and Leader of the House of Commons, 2014 to 2015.
- Robert Hayward OBE: Board Member and Treasurer of Dignity in Dying and a Trustee of the YMCA. Former Conservative Member of Parliament for Kingswood Bristol, 1982 to 1992, and later Chief Executive of the British Soft Drink Association and of the British Beer and Pub Association. Prominent spokesman on gay and lesbian issues.
- Rt Hon Douglas Hogg QC: Member of Parliament for Grantham, later Sleaford and North Hykeham, 1979 to 2010. Former Minister for Industry and Enterprise; Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
- Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE: Member of Parliament for South Cambridgeshire, 1997 to 2015 and longstanding member of the Conservative Front Bench. Shadow Secretary of State for Health, 2003 to 2010; Secretary of State for Health, 2010 to 2012; Leader of the House of Commons, 2012 to 2014.
- James Lupton CBE: Businessman and leading philanthropist. Co-founded the London office of Greenhill and Co. and with 36 years of business experience, is now Chairman of Greenhill Europe. Recently served as Chairman of Dulwich Picture Gallery; has been a Trustee of the British Museum, and Chairman of the Lupton family charitable foundation, The Lovington Foundation, specialising in arts education and youth welfare. Co-Treasurer of the Conservative Party since 2013.
- Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE: Chair of the Women’s Business Council and Chief Executive of Mitie Group plc, the strategic outsourcing company – she is one of a small number of women holding the position of Chief Executive in the FTSE 250 or 100 and is the first Asian woman to be appointed in such a role within that group of companies.
- Anne McIntosh: Former Conservative Member of the European Parliament and later Member of Parliament for the Vale of York and Thirsk and Malton constituencies. Chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, 2010 to 2015.
- Michelle Mone OBE: One of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs, founding several successful businesses, including Ultimo, the UK’s leading designer lingerie brand. Plays an active role in mentoring programmes, with a particular emphasis on encouraging entrepreneurship in the young. Sits on the Board of Directors for The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust.
- James O’Shaughnessy: Managing Director of the charity, Floreat Education; former Director of Policy and Research for the Conservative Party, authoring the Conservatives’ 2010 general election manifesto, and Director of Policy in 10 Downing Street, 2010 to 2011.
- Emma Pidding CBE: Longstanding senior figure in the Conservative voluntary party. Former Chiltern District Councillor and, between 2012 to 2015, served as Chairman of the Conservative Party’s National Convention, which also led to her being appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Board.
- Stuart Polak CBE: Director of the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) since 1989. Former Youth and Community Worker for the United Synagogue, Edgware. Founding Vice Chairman and creator of the Governors of Hersmere Jewish Primary School; and Trustee of Yavneh College, an Academy in Borehamwood.
- Councillor Gary Porter CBE: Long-serving Councillor on South Holland District Council; since 2003 has been Council Leader. Current Chairman of both the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Conservative Councillors Association – the first time any Councillor has been Chairman of both organisations simultaneously.
- Councillor Elizabeth Redfern: Longstanding Conservative Councillor, currently Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, where she holds the portfolio for Regeneration and Devolution.
- Rt Hon Andrew Robathan: Member of Parliament for Blaby (later South Leicestershire) for 23 years. Served in a number of senior Front Bench and government posts, including as Opposition Deputy Chief Whip, 2005 to 2010, and later as Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence and Northern Ireland Office.
- Kate Rock: Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party with special responsibility for business engagement. Non Executive Director of Imagination Technologies plc, the FTSE 250 technology company and Non Executive Director of children’s newspaper First News. Governor of Burlington Danes Academy in West London.
- Councillor Jane Scott OBE: Leader of Wiltshire Council unitary authority since June 2009 and, before that, of its predecessor, the former Wiltshire County Council, between 2003 and 2009. Currently sits of the LGA’s Children and Young People’s Board, and is the County Council’s Network Spokesman for Children and Young People.
- Kevin Shinkwin: Longstanding voluntary sector professional, supporting charities including The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID, now Action on Hearing Loss); Macmillan Cancer Support; Cancer Research UK; and The Royal British Legion.
- Philip Smith CBE: Chief Executive of The Association of Conservative Clubs and the Committee of Registered Club Associations, an association which encompasses all of the main UK’s club organisations, representing all political, social and ex-service personnel clubs.
- Philippa Stroud: Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions since 2010, responsible for the development of the social justice agenda and the government’s welfare reform programme. Former Executive Director of the Bridge Project, a voluntary sector project that provided supported accommodation for the homeless, and a founder member and Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice.
- Rt Hon David Willetts: Member of Parliament for Havant, 1992 to 2015, during which time he served in a number of key Front Bench roles, including Paymaster General in John Major’s government and, most recently, as Minister for Universities and Science, 2010 to 2014. Chairs the British Science Association; has joined the Advisory Council of the President of the Royal Society; and is a Trustee of the Science Museum.
- Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt CH: Conservative Member of Parliament for Ealing Acton, 1974 to 1997, and North West Hampshire, 1997 to 2015. Former Minister for Housing and Planning; Financial Secretary to the Treasury; and Secretary of State for Transport in John Major’s government. More recently, Leader of the House of Commons and Government Chief Whip in David Cameron’s administration.
- Sir Alan Beith: Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed for 42 years. Served in a number of Front Bench posts, including Deputy Leader, Chief Whip, and Treasury and Home Affairs Spokesperson. Chair of the Justice Select Committee in the last parliament.
- Sharon Bowles: MEP for South East region, 2005 to 2014. Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Policy, 2009-2014. Non-Executive Director of the London Stock Exchange, 2014 to present.
- Sir Malcolm Bruce: MP for Gordon, 1983 to 2015. Served in a number of Front Bench posts, including Deputy Leader, and Treasury, Environment, and Education Spokesperson. Chair of the International Development Select Committee, 2005 to 2015.
- Lorely Burt: MP for Solihull, 2005 to 2015. First female Chair of the Liberal Democrat Party. Served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the coalition government. Variously Northern Ireland, women and equalities, and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesperson.
- Rt Hon Sir Menzies ‘Ming’ Campbell CH, CBE, QC: MP for North East Fife, 1987 to 2015. Leader of the Liberal Democrats, 2006 to 2007. Served on the Intelligence and Security Committee. Front bench roles include Foreign Affairs and Defence Spokesperson. As an athlete, represented the UK at the 1964 Olympics and captained the Scotland team at the 1966 Commonwealth Games.
- Lynne Featherstone: MP for Hornsey and Wood Green from 2005 to 2015. Served as Minister for the duration of the last coalition government – as Equalities and Home Office Minister and a Minister in the Department for International Development (DFID) – and oversaw legislation for equal marriage and 0.7% DFID spending.
- Don Foster: MP for Bath from 1992 to 2010. Highly successful front bench spokesman in opposition, and also served as a Minister for the Department for Communities and Local Government between 2012 to 2013. He was the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip between October 2013 and the 2015 general election.
- Jonny Oates: Served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister for the duration of the coalition government. In opposition in the 2005 parliament he held senior communications and policy staff positions under both Menzies Campbell and Nick Clegg.
- Shas Sheehan: Served as a Councillor for the Kew ward between 2006 to 2010 where she was Assistant Cabinet Member for Energy and Climate Change. She is currently involved in a number of local community groups in Wimbledon and is a trustee of Merton and Lambeth Citizens Advice Bureau.
- Sir Andrew Stunell OBE: MP for Hazel Grove (1997 to 2015). In opposition, held a number of Front Bench roles and from 2010 to 2012 served as a Minster in the Department of Communities and Local Government. In 2010 he played a key role in the Liberal Democrat coalition negotiations.
- Dorothy Thornhill MBE: The first ever directly elected female Mayor in the UK when she was elected Liberal Democrat Mayor of Watford in 2002. She was re-elected in 2006, 2010 and 2014. She has held a number of senior roles on the Local Government Association including Deputy Chairwoman of the Association.
- Rt Hon David Blunkett: MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough for 28 years. Served in a number of senior Cabinet posts, including as Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1997 to 2001) and Home Secretary (2001 to 2004). Formerly Councillor in and then Leader of Sheffield Council (1970 to 1988). Currently Vice President of the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the National Alzheimer’s Society.
- Rt Hon Alistair Darling: MP for Edinburgh South West for 28 years. Served in a number of Cabinet posts including as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1998 to 2002) , Transport (2002 to 2006), Scotland (2003 to 2006) and as Chancellor of the Exchequer (2007 to 2010). Mr Darling was appointed Chair of the Better Together Campaign in 2010.
- Rt Hon Peter Hain: MP for Neath for 24 years (1991 to 2015). Served in a number of Cabinet posts including as Welsh Secretary (2002 to 2003), Leader of the House of Commons (2003 to 2005) and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2007 to 2008). As Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (2005 to 2007) he oversaw the implementation of the peace process and the return of self government to Northern Ireland. Co-Founder of the anti-apartheid movement in the UK and leader of the ‘Stop the Seventy Tour’ campaign (1969 to 1970).
- Rt Hon Tessa Jowell DBE: Former social worker. MP for Dulwich and West Norwood for 23 years (1992 to 2015). Served in a number of senior government posts, including as a Minister of State in the Department of Education and Department of Health and as Minister for the Cabinet Office (2009 to 2010). As Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport and Minister for the Olympics (2001 to 2009) oversaw the successful bid and preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Spencer Livermore: Leading communications and strategy professional. Senior Labour Party strategist (1997 to 2008) and Director of Strategy to the Prime Minister (2007 to 2008). Senior campaign strategist for the Labour Party, including as Campaign Director of the 2015 general election campaign. Formerly Director of Strategy at Blue Rubicon and Senior Strategist at Saatchi & Saatchi.
- Paul Murphy: MP for Torfaen for 28 years (1987 to 2015). Served in a number of senior government posts, including as Secretary of State for Wales (1999 to 2002, 2008 to 2009) and as a Minister and then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1997 to 1999, 2000 to 2005). Former Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee. Received a Knight Commander of Merit in recognition of his commitment to peace in Northern Ireland.
- Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo DBE: MP for Bristol South for 28 years (1987 to 2015). Served in a number of senior government posts including as Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1997 to 1999), Paymaster General (1999 to 2007), and as Minister of State for Public Health (2007 to 2009) and Children, Young People and Families (2009 to 2010). Served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (2010 to 2015).
- Dave Watts: MP for St Helens North for 18 years. Formerly leader of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, he served in a number of Parliamentary and government posts, including as a Government Whip and Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury (2008 to 2010). Appointed as Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party (2012 to 2015).