Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is cautioned against appointing a large number of Labour peers to the House of Lords, amid calls for reform. Simultaneously, a poll indicates Labour’s rising support amongst business leaders, surpassing the Conservatives in popularity within the business community.
Starmer Urged to Avoid Filling House of Lords with Supporters
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been advised against appointing a significant number of Labour peers to the House of Lords if his party wins the next election. Labour currently ranks as the third largest group in the House of Lords, trailing behind the Conservatives and cross-benchers, with 172 Labour peers compared to 275 Tory peers and 179 cross-benchers.
Campaigners argue that increasing Labour’s presence in the Lords without substantial reform would send the wrong message to the public. Starmer had pledged during his leadership campaign to abolish the current House of Lords structure and establish an elected chamber to replace the hereditary and appointed system.
Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, emphasized the need for fundamental changes. He noted the House of Lords is the second-largest legislative chamber globally, following China’s National People’s Congress, and has been marred by scandals involving peerage appointments.
While some within Labour suggest equalizing the number of peers to enable passing reforms, Hughes and other campaigners advocate for a more democratic approach, proposing a smaller, elected chamber to restore public trust.
Poll: Labour Gains Unprecedented Support from Business Leaders
A recent poll by Savanta reveals that Labour has garnered unprecedented support from business leaders, overtaking the Conservatives as the preferred party for the UK business sector. Of 1,000 business decision-makers surveyed, 49% viewed Labour as the best for business, compared to 32% for the Conservatives.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has emphasized “wealth creation” as a primary focus, seeking to position Labour as the “party of business.” This shift has been underscored by a public endorsement from 120 company executives, even though some were linked to inactive firms.
Savanta’s political research director, Chris Hopkins, highlighted that business support serves as a crucial indicator of economic credibility, especially for Labour as it navigates its way toward potential electoral success.
