Ex-Olympic Swimmer Sharron Davies and Former Chief of Staff to Rachel Reeves Among Those to Receive Peerages
A total of 34 peerages have been proposed, with nominations including 25 from Labour, 3 from the Conservatives, 5 from the Liberal Democrats, plus one peer nominated by peers in the House of Lords. Notable nominees include Sharron Davies, an ex-Olympic swimmer nominated by Kemi Badenoch, and Katie Martin, the former chief of staff to Rachel Reeves.
Other figures nominated are Richard Walker, chairman of Iceland; Matthew Doyle, former No 10 director of communications; Sir John Redwood, former cabinet minister; Carol Linforth; Len Duvall, chair of the London Assembly; Sir Michael Barber; and Dr Sara Hyde, chair of the Fabian Society. Liberal Democrat nominees include Mike Dixon, the party CEO; Rhiannon Leaman, former chief of staff to Ed Davey; and two hereditary peers.
Labour has expressed that these nominations aim to address imbalances in the House of Lords and to pursue reform, including the removal of hereditary peers' automatic right to sit and vote. However, a Conservative source criticized the Liberal Democrats for receiving more peerage places than the official Opposition. The Liberal Democrats and Ed Davey have defended their selections.
The appointments are formally conferred by the King. This report is dated 10 December 2025.
