Claims that Labour is providing former Labour MPs peerages in exchange for their resignation in order to make room for Sir Keir Starmer’s preferred candidates have been refuted.
A number of left-wing Labour candidates, who held their seats as MPs prior to the election, claimed The Times they were promised a promotion to the House of Lords in exchange for their resignations.
On Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on News, Yvette Cooper, Labour’s shadow home secretary, asserted that “no party can do that, it’s not the way the system works.”
It is not possible for Sir Keir or any other party leader to guarantee a seat in the Lords because there is a “whole process” for an independent committee to review nominations.
The accusation surfaced following Sir Keir’s alleged attempts to oust left-leaning candidates from the party.
Diane Abbott, a veteran MP, accused him of “culling” left-wing Labour politicians after Lloyd Russell-Moyle and Faiza Shaheen were disqualified from running for office.
Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader, said on News that Sir Keir is “clearly intervening” in a “purge” of candidates who lean left.
However, Sir Keir refuted that, stating that he is looking for “the highest quality candidates”.
