May ready to appoint 10 new Tory peers to crowded Lords
THERESA May is poised to create 10 new Tory peers despite urging other party leaders to curb their numbers in the 792-strong Upper House.
A cross-party panel last year recommended slashing numbers to 600. But in her response to Lord Burns’ committee, the PM said its plans “require further thought”.
And, in a letter to Lord Speaker Lord Fowler, she added: “Having nominated no political peers in the last parliament I am planning to propose a small list of new party-political peers.” She went on: “I intend to continue the restraint I have exercised to date.” However the PM stepped up calls for peers to help slash numbers by voluntarily retiring. The Tories lack a majority in the Lords, which is about to debate key Brexit legislation and is seen as overwhelmingly hostile to quitting the EU.