British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered his brother Jo a seat in the House of Lords, a distinction that eludes former House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, however.
Read also: United Kingdom: the conservative revolution of Boris Johnson
Published Friday, July 31, the list of 36 future new members of the upper house of the British Parliament includes many Brexiters. Their appointment officially goes to Queen Elizabeth II.
Several returns among the Tories
Jo Johnson, a staunch pro-European, left his older brother's government last September citing “ the national interest ”, deeming the Prime Minister's strategy too radical on the hot Brexit dossier. The list also features Conservative Party figures like Ken Clarke or former Finance Minister Philip Hammond, who were excluded, along with around 20 rebels, after voting with the Labor opposition in one of many votes. on Brexit.
Former House of Commons speaker John Bercow, whose thunderous “ Order Order ” in the same Brexit votes have toured the world, is not on the list. A departure from tradition for this colorful character with garish ties, who was accused of partiality on the part of the conservative ranks from which he came, and who was accused of having harassed and tyrannized his teams, an accusation that he strongly denies.
It is the first time in two centuries that the former “ speaker ” of the House of Commons has been refused his place on the purple leather benches of the Lords.
With these new arrivals, the House of Lords is expected to exceed 800 members, appointed for life, can nevertheless resign or retire. “ By naming a host of ex-deputies, party loyalists and his own brother, the Prime Minister invites total derision. That he can get away with this shows how much this chamber is a private members ' club, ”said Darren Hughes, who heads an organization campaigning for reform of the British electoral system, the Electoral Reform Society.