News / Politics
Former Bristol West MP takes seat in Lords as Baroness Debbonaire
Thangam Debbonaire failed in her attempt to return to the House of Commons as an MP but she is now entitled to sit next door having officially been sworn in as the newest peer in the House of Lords.
Baroness Debbonaire of De Beauvoir Town in the London Borough of Hackney has joined former mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, now Lord Rees of Easton, in the upper chamber.
They were both elevated to the peerage having been nominated by prime minister Keir Starmer.
is needed now More than ever
Speaking to the BBC in 2022, Debbonaire said that Starmer would “never exploit” the honours system “to do what Boris Johnson has done”, saying Johnson had been “rewarding cronies and that’s just not on”.
In a recent interview with Bristol24/7, Debbonaire – also chair of the Labour Women’s Network – pledged to focus on the arts sector in the House of Lords.
The former professional cellist was MP for Bristol West from 2015 to 2024, coming second to Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer in the newly created constituency of Bristol Central in the 2024 general election.
Welcoming Baroness Debbonaire’s return to Westminster, Filton & Bradley Stoke MP Claire Hazelgrove said: “One of the kindest and most supportive people in politics. Parliament will be all the better for having her back.”
Main photo: Parliament Live
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