Three former council leaders will be among 30 new members of the House of Lords, Downing Street has announced.
Previous Conservative leader of Birmingham City Council, Michael Whitby, Susan Williams, formerly of Trafford Council, and Catherine Mary Bakewell, Liberal Democrat leader of Somerset CC between 2001 and 2009, were named as peers.
Williams said: ‘This is a tremendous honour and I greatly look forward to continuing to be an advocate for the people of the North West for many years to come.’
Former leaders from Birmingham, Trafford and Somerset were granted peerages by Downing Street.Welcoming the announcement, Trafford Council leader, Matthew Colledge said: ‘During her time as leader, Susan put the people of Trafford and Greater Manchester first. Since then she has dedicated herself to driving improvements across the region. I have no doubt that for Susan this will be far more than a title and that she will use her new position to champion the growth of the North West.’
Among others joining the House of Lords will be the head of the London Assembly and long-term member of the Green Party, Jenny Jones. Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered schoolboy Stephen, will become a Labour peer.
