Latest news with #ThangamDebbonaire
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
The former West MPs with new roles in the House of Lords
To MPs in the Commons it is known as "the other place".But being elevated to the House of Lords has provided a way back to the political fray for two former West Country Conservative Transport Secretary Mark Harper and ex-Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire were awarded life peerages following their respective defeats at last year's general said: "I'm hoping to be working hard. I'm going to be a working peer, so I shall be here as much as I can when the House is sitting and I'll get stuck in." The new role marks a return to politics for Harper, who lost his Forest of Dean constituency in Gloucestershire by less than 300 votes in July added that in his new position he hoped to contribute to internal Conservative party debates around how to be competitive again and "hopefully win the next general election".Labour's Debbonaire, defeated by the Green Party in Bristol Central, expressed a similar desire to immerse herself in her new role, calling it an "incredible privilege"."It wasn't a hard decision, primarily because I went into politics because I believe in public service, like most politicians of all parties," she said. "It was a new way to serve the public, which is your first and primary duty." She added: "Bringing my skills to work on a daily basis is really, I think, of benefit to my service to the public and the country."Critics have pointed to Debbonaire's previous criticism of the honours system and Labour's former committal to abolishing the House of Debbonaire said that a second chamber was necessary, and the government was following through on commitments to remove hereditary and Debbonaire join another familiar face who has recently taken his seat in the chamber, Bristol's former Mayor, Marvin known as Lord Rees of Easton, the new Labour peer made his maiden speech on 3 are all back in the political fray, spending time in the House debating and voting, but also having other roles elsewhere.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Bristol MP takes seat in House of Lords
A former Bristol MP and shadow minister has taken her seat in the House of Lords after being awarded a life peerage. Thangam Debbonaire had served as the Labour MP for Bristol West since 2015 but lost to the Green Party's co-leader Carla Denyer in the new seat of Bristol Central in the 2024 general election. She will now be Baroness Debbonaire of De Beauvoir Town in the London Borough of Hackney. During her time as an opposition MP, she held a number of shadow cabinet positions over a period of four years - most recently as shadow culture secretary. Baroness Debbonaire wore the traditional scarlet robes for the introductory ceremony. Her election defeat marked a rare loss for Labour as they cruised to a resounding majority win in July. She later said she expected to lose her seat over the Labour Party's "lack of a strong narrative" over the war in Gaza. Baroness Debonaire is the second Bristol politician to enter the Lords in recent weeks after former city mayor Marvin Rees took his seat on 24 February, becoming Lord Rees of Easton in the process. Former city mayor takes seat in House of Lords What is the House of Lords and how does it work? Bristol 'makes history' by electing its first Green MP House of Lords
