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Sir Keir Starmer has nominated his former top adviser Sue Gray for a life peerage.

Ms Gray, whose report into the partygate scandal contributed to the downfall of former prime minister Boris Johnson, is among several new Labour peerages that have been announced.

The former civil servant left her role as Sir Keir’s chief of staff in October following an internal power struggle in Downing Street.

She was then appointed to a newly created nations and regions position within Number 10, however, it was confirmed in November that she would not be taking up the role.

Back in 2022, Labour unveiled proposals to abolish House of Lords and to replace it with a “reformed upper chamber”.

However, ahead of the general election this year, the plans were scaled back – with Sir Keir instead pledging to remove the 92 hereditary peers and to introduce an age cap of 80.

It is understood Sir Keir has made the nominations in an attempt to tilt the balance towards Labour in the second chamber.

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During the 14 years the Conservatives were in power, the number of Tory peers rose to 273 while there are 187 Labour peers, 78 Liberal Democrat peers and 184 crossbenchers, who are not affiliated to any political party.

Other notable names that have been nominated include:

• Carwyn Jones – former first minister of Wales

• Dame Thérèse Coffey – former deputy prime minister

• Toby Young – founder and director of the Free Speech Union, and an associate editor of The Spectator.

• And Thangam Debonnaire – former shadow cabinet minister who lost her seat unexpectedly at the general election

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Politics

Czech justice minister resigns over $45M Bitcoin gift from convict

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Czech justice minister resigns over M Bitcoin gift from convict

Czech justice minister resigns over M Bitcoin gift from convict

Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned following backlash over his ministry’s sale of Bitcoin donated by a convicted criminal.

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Politics

France charges 25 over crypto kidnapping spree in Paris

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France charges 25 over crypto kidnapping spree in Paris

France charges 25 over crypto kidnapping spree in Paris

French prosecutors charged 25 people over a wave of crypto-related kidnappings. However, the masterminds remain at large.

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Politics

Farage has ‘grabbed the mic’ to dominate media agenda, says Harman

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Farage has 'grabbed the mic' to dominate media agenda, says Harman

Nigel Farage has successfully exploited the Commons recess to “grab the mic” and “dominate” the agenda, Harriet Harman has said.

Speaking on Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, the Labour peer said that the Reform UK leader has been able to “get his voice heard” while government was not in “full swing”.

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Mr Farage used a speech this week to set himself, rather than Kemi Badenoch’s Tories, up as the main opposition to Sir Keir Starmer at the next election.

The prime minister responded on Thursday with a speech attacking the Clacton MP.

Baroness Harman said: “It’s slightly different between opposition and government because in government, the ministers have to be there the whole time.

“They’ve got to be putting legislation through and they kind of hold the mic.

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“They can dominate the news media with the announcements they’re making and with the bills they’re introducing, and it’s quite hard for the opposition to get a hearing whilst the government is in full swing.

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‘Big cuts’ to fund other Reform UK policies

“What we used to do when we were in opposition before 1997 is that as soon as there was a bank holiday and the House was not sitting, as soon as the half-term or the summer recess, we would be on an absolute war footing and dominate the airwaves because that was our opportunity.

“And I think that’s a bit of what Farage has done this week,” Harman added.

“Basically, Farage can dominate the media agenda.”

She went on: “He’s kind of stepped forward, and he’s using this moment of the House not sitting in order to actually get his voice heard.

“It’s sensible for the opposition to take the opportunity of when the House is not sitting to kind of grab the mic and that is what Nigel Farage has done.”

But Baroness Harman said it “doesn’t seem to be what Kemi Badenoch’s doing”.

She explained that the embattled leader “doesn’t seem to be grabbing the mic like Nigel Farage has” during recess, and added that “there’s greater opportunity for the opposition”.

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