Sir Keir Starmer has elevated former MP Thangham Debbonaire to the Lords (Image: GETTY)
Thangam Debbonaire, the former Labour MP, has been skewered by Tory opponents after enthusiastically accepting a peerage - despite having savaged the Tories for using Britain’s honours system to "reward cronies”.
And Ms Debbonaire has also faced a significant backlash on social media, with numerous users sharing a clip recorded in 2022 in which she insisted Sir Keir Starmer would “never do what Boris Johnson has done”.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
POLL: Should Keir Starmer make Nigel Farage ambassador to US? Vote here
257 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Labour hit with embarrassingly low approval ratings
121 Comments
WASPI women flock to Reform UK after Labour snub: new poll
244 Comments
Labour MPs 'already discussing removing Keir Starmer' as anger grows over blunders
1090 Comments
5 things the Tories must do if they are going to survive the threat from Nigel Farage
Comments
Keir Starmer 'badly needs holiday' as friends say he is suffering 'strain' of the job
474 Comments
Five shocking broken promises by Keir Starmer's Labour in just five months
185 Comments
Donald Trump's close aide lashes out at Peter Mandelson with brutal two-word attack
814 Comments
Peter Mandelson officially named as UK ambassador to US
124 Comments
All Keir Starmer's broken promises are listed - and the list is getting longer and longer
239 Comments
WASPI campaign will make Labour pay 'price' for abandoning 1950s women
18 Comments
Keir Starmer on brink as 'Labour leadership campaigns already being put together'
537 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Keir Starmer branded 'liar' for 'attack on working class'
165 Comments
Labour civil war as Diane Abbott launches scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer
413 Comments
Labour on the brink as bombshell new poll reveals Starmer facing loss of 200 seats
795 Comments
Sue Gray handed peerage as Keir Starmer sparks new cronyism row
726 Comments
Lee Anderson's devastating seven-word verdict on unearthed Yvette Cooper WASPI video
596 Comments
POLL: Do you think Keir Starmer will still be Prime Minister next Christmas?
705 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour cabinet members set to lose seat to Reform - full list
876 Comments
Voters not sure Keir Starmer will even last another year as Prime Minister
85 Comments
POLL: Should Keir Starmer make Nigel Farage ambassador to US? Vote here
257 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Labour hit with embarrassingly low approval ratings
121 Comments
WASPI women flock to Reform UK after Labour snub: new poll
244 Comments
Labour MPs 'already discussing removing Keir Starmer' as anger grows over blunders
1090 Comments
5 things the Tories must do if they are going to survive the threat from Nigel Farage
Comments
Keir Starmer 'badly needs holiday' as friends say he is suffering 'strain' of the job
474 Comments
Five shocking broken promises by Keir Starmer's Labour in just five months
185 Comments
Donald Trump's close aide lashes out at Peter Mandelson with brutal two-word attack
814 Comments
Peter Mandelson officially named as UK ambassador to US
124 Comments
All Keir Starmer's broken promises are listed - and the list is getting longer and longer
239 Comments
WASPI campaign will make Labour pay 'price' for abandoning 1950s women
18 Comments
Keir Starmer on brink as 'Labour leadership campaigns already being put together'
537 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Keir Starmer branded 'liar' for 'attack on working class'
165 Comments
Labour civil war as Diane Abbott launches scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer
413 Comments
Labour on the brink as bombshell new poll reveals Starmer facing loss of 200 seats
795 Comments
Sue Gray handed peerage as Keir Starmer sparks new cronyism row
726 Comments
Lee Anderson's devastating seven-word verdict on unearthed Yvette Cooper WASPI video
596 Comments
POLL: Do you think Keir Starmer will still be Prime Minister next Christmas?
705 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour cabinet members set to lose seat to Reform - full list
876 Comments
Voters not sure Keir Starmer will even last another year as Prime Minister
85 Comments
POLL: Should Keir Starmer make Nigel Farage ambassador to US? Vote here
257 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Labour hit with embarrassingly low approval ratings
121 Comments
WASPI women flock to Reform UK after Labour snub: new poll
244 Comments
Labour MPs 'already discussing removing Keir Starmer' as anger grows over blunders
1090 Comments
5 things the Tories must do if they are going to survive the threat from Nigel Farage
Comments
Keir Starmer 'badly needs holiday' as friends say he is suffering 'strain' of the job
474 Comments
Five shocking broken promises by Keir Starmer's Labour in just five months
185 Comments
Downing Street announced a raft of new nominations to the House of Lords on Friday afternoon, included former shadow cabinet minister Thangam Debbonaire.
Others include Sir Keir’s former Chief of Staff Sue Gray, as well as former MP Luciana Berger, who resigned from Labour in 2019 over the antisemitism scandal before rejoining in 2023, will also sit on the Labour Lords benches.
Overall, 38 new appointments were announced, including the six from the Tories, Labour's 30, and two from the Liberal Democrats.
READ MORE: Labour MPs 'already discussing removing Keir Starmer' as anger grows
Thangam Debbonaire sometime in the past: "This has been rewarding cronies, and that's just not on, and Keir Starmer would never do that, he would never exploit the honours system to do what Boris Johnson has done" pic.twitter.com/uPBWCVuaoa
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) December 20, 2024
Posting on X, Ms Debbonaire, the former Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, said: “I'm honoured to be asked to join the House of Lords.
"I’m grateful to the Prime Minister for giving me this opportunity to serve the country and support the Labour government he leads to transform the UK.”
Her remarks were in marked contrast to those made during an appearance on ITV two years ago in which she said: “This has been rewarding cronies, and that’s just not on.
“And Sir Keir Starmer would never do that, he would never exploit the honours system to do what Boris Johnson has done.”
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Don't miss...
Worried WASPI women cutting back on food after Keir Starmer betrayal [INSIGHT]
Keir Starmer accused of dragging Britain back into EU through back door [ANALYSIS]
Fears mount that Keir Starmer's about to stitch up UK fishing industry [PICTURES]
Trending
Sue Gray has also been made a peer (Image: Getty)
Ms Debbonaire, defeated in Bristol Central by Green Party leader Carla Denyer in June, had frequently accused former PM Mr Johnson of exploiting the honours system in their favour, claiming this was typified by his resignation honours, with nominations handed to close allies and political supporters rather than individuals recognised for their service to the nation.
She had therefore argued that the system was being "degraded and discredited" by what she sought to characterise as favoritism, undermining public trust in its integrity.
One Tory source told Express.co.uk: "Once again, it’s one rule for Labour, and one for everyone else.
“But the public see right through their gesture politics, and instead see the deep hypocrisy right at their core."
Former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Image: Getty)
Reacting on X, one poster observed of Ms Debbonaire’s remark: “That hasn't aged well.”
Former Olympic swimming champion Sharron Davies, a member of the Conservative Party, shared a laughing emoticon, adding: “Again…Oh the hypocrisy.”
DON'T MISS
Powered by
POLL: Should Keir Starmer make Nigel Farage ambassador to US? Vote here
257 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Labour hit with embarrassingly low approval ratings
121 Comments
WASPI women flock to Reform UK after Labour snub: new poll
244 Comments
Labour MPs 'already discussing removing Keir Starmer' as anger grows over blunders
1090 Comments
5 things the Tories must do if they are going to survive the threat from Nigel Farage
Comments
Keir Starmer 'badly needs holiday' as friends say he is suffering 'strain' of the job
474 Comments
Five shocking broken promises by Keir Starmer's Labour in just five months
185 Comments
Donald Trump's close aide lashes out at Peter Mandelson with brutal two-word attack
814 Comments
Peter Mandelson officially named as UK ambassador to US
124 Comments
All Keir Starmer's broken promises are listed - and the list is getting longer and longer
239 Comments
WASPI campaign will make Labour pay 'price' for abandoning 1950s women
18 Comments
Keir Starmer on brink as 'Labour leadership campaigns already being put together'
537 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Keir Starmer branded 'liar' for 'attack on working class'
165 Comments
Labour civil war as Diane Abbott launches scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer
413 Comments
Labour on the brink as bombshell new poll reveals Starmer facing loss of 200 seats
795 Comments
Sue Gray handed peerage as Keir Starmer sparks new cronyism row
726 Comments
Lee Anderson's devastating seven-word verdict on unearthed Yvette Cooper WASPI video
596 Comments
POLL: Do you think Keir Starmer will still be Prime Minister next Christmas?
705 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour cabinet members set to lose seat to Reform - full list
876 Comments
Voters not sure Keir Starmer will even last another year as Prime Minister
85 Comments
POLL: Should Keir Starmer make Nigel Farage ambassador to US? Vote here
257 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Labour hit with embarrassingly low approval ratings
121 Comments
WASPI women flock to Reform UK after Labour snub: new poll
244 Comments
Labour MPs 'already discussing removing Keir Starmer' as anger grows over blunders
1090 Comments
5 things the Tories must do if they are going to survive the threat from Nigel Farage
Comments
Keir Starmer 'badly needs holiday' as friends say he is suffering 'strain' of the job
474 Comments
Five shocking broken promises by Keir Starmer's Labour in just five months
185 Comments
Donald Trump's close aide lashes out at Peter Mandelson with brutal two-word attack
814 Comments
Peter Mandelson officially named as UK ambassador to US
124 Comments
All Keir Starmer's broken promises are listed - and the list is getting longer and longer
239 Comments
WASPI campaign will make Labour pay 'price' for abandoning 1950s women
18 Comments
Keir Starmer on brink as 'Labour leadership campaigns already being put together'
537 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Keir Starmer branded 'liar' for 'attack on working class'
165 Comments
Labour civil war as Diane Abbott launches scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer
413 Comments
Labour on the brink as bombshell new poll reveals Starmer facing loss of 200 seats
795 Comments
Sue Gray handed peerage as Keir Starmer sparks new cronyism row
726 Comments
Lee Anderson's devastating seven-word verdict on unearthed Yvette Cooper WASPI video
596 Comments
POLL: Do you think Keir Starmer will still be Prime Minister next Christmas?
705 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour cabinet members set to lose seat to Reform - full list
876 Comments
Voters not sure Keir Starmer will even last another year as Prime Minister
85 Comments
POLL: Should Keir Starmer make Nigel Farage ambassador to US? Vote here
257 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Labour hit with embarrassingly low approval ratings
121 Comments
WASPI women flock to Reform UK after Labour snub: new poll
244 Comments
Labour MPs 'already discussing removing Keir Starmer' as anger grows over blunders
1090 Comments
5 things the Tories must do if they are going to survive the threat from Nigel Farage
Comments
Keir Starmer 'badly needs holiday' as friends say he is suffering 'strain' of the job
474 Comments
Five shocking broken promises by Keir Starmer's Labour in just five months
185 Comments
A Labour source told Express.co.uk: “？The Tories stuffed the House of Lords, creating a serious imbalance in the chamber.
"This needs to be corrected to drive through the government’s plan for change and deliver on our mandate from the British people.
“We are committed to an overdue programme of reform and have already laid legislation to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the Lords.”