Alexander Pelling-Bruce Alexander Pelling-Bruce

Why Tom Watson’s peerage should be blocked

Is Jeremy Corbyn attempting to foment the abolition of the House of Lords? His recent peerage nominations suggest so. Corbyn has put forward a former Speaker mired in bullying allegations who facilitated a parliamentary revolution. A failed apparatchik under investigation for her handling of anti-Semitism. And Tom Watson.

The former Labour deputy leader is perhaps the most reprehensible choice given his role in the Carl Beech affair. Beech, known as ‘Nick’, made multiple false allegations of sexual assault and murder, which led to the destruction of the careers, livelihoods and reputations of several men who truly served the nation.

But there is nothing inevitable about Watson being elevated to the Lords. The House of Lords Appointment Commission, which is responsible for vetting peers, can – and ought to – advise against Watson’s elevation.

The Commission’s website states that its role is to:

‘Advise the Prime Minister if it has any concerns about the propriety of a nominee.

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