Former mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees has taken his seat for life in the unelected House of Lords.
Lord Rees of Easton, who was handed a peerage by the Prime Minister, wore the traditional scarlet robes for the short introduction ceremony, where he swore allegiance to the King. He was supported by fellow Labour peer Lord Boateng and independent crossbencher Lord Woolley of Woodford.
Among those looking on in the upper chamber was Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. Lord Rees was elected mayor of Bristol in 2016 and held the post until May last year when it was abolished following a referendum.
Also taking their seat on the Labour benches in the Lords was Dinah Caine. Since 2016, she has served as chairwoman of Camden Steam, which provides opportunities in the digital, scientific and creative industries for young people in the London borough.
Until last year she chaired the governing council of Goldsmiths University. Dressed in the scarlet robes, Baroness Caine of Kentish Town was supported by fellow Labour peers Baroness Morris of Yardley and Lord Stevenson of Balmacara as she pledged allegiance to the monarch.
Former MP Thangam Debbonaire was also offered a peerage back in December. The Labour politician lost her seat in the general election in July.
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She lost to Carla Denyer, who became the city’s first Green MP in the new seat of Bristol Central. Mr Rees tried to become an MP but failed to win over local party members, who instead chose Damien Egan, who then became the first MP for Bristol North East.
At the end of year, political parties nominate some people to join the House of Lords. Although peers are different from MPs, these politicians still get to vote on new laws and can serve in cabinet positions, like David Cameron, the former prime minister and foreign secretary.
Mr Starmer previously promised to abolish the House of Lords altogether. Instead, Labour is taking a gradual approach, and will soon remove 92 hereditary peers. These politicians inherited their right to sit in the Lords from their parents.
The House of Lords is one of two parts of the UK Parliament, the other being the House of Commons, where MPs sit. Also nominated for a peerage are Sue Gray, Toby Young and Luciana Berger.