Starmer risks fresh crony row by appointing 30 new Labour peers – including former right-hand woman Sue Gray

SIR Keir Starmer risks a fresh crony row by appointing thirty new Labour peers on Thursday.

Ex-MPs and the PM’s former right-hand woman Sue Gray are among those set to gain a gong.

The move is likely to spark fury after Sir Keir spent months in the run up to the election vowing to slim down the upper chamber.

And just two years ago he called for the House of Lords to be abolished altogether.

Among the PM’s allies set to be rewarded are ex-Labour MPs Thangam Debbonaire, Julie Elliott, Lyn Brown and Kevin Brennan.

Ms Debbonaire served as Shadow Culture Secretary but lost her Bristol West constituency to the Green Party.

The elevation of deposed partygate inquisitor Ms Gray is set to raise eyebrows after she lasted just four months as Sir Keir’s chief of staff in No10.

It comes as the PM has introduced legislation to axe 92 hereditary peers from the “massive” House of Lords.

It is understood that he will try and justify a huge new injection of members by arguing Labour doesn’t have a sufficient presence in the upper chamber.

Currently the House of Lords comprises 273 Tories, 187 Labour, 78 Lib Dems and 184 cross-benchers.