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| Cameron announces 26 new Tory peers in dissolution honours | Cameron announces 26 new Tory peers in dissolution honours |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron is facing accusations of "cronyism" after handing 26 peerages to former Tory ministers and aides. | David Cameron is facing accusations of "cronyism" after handing 26 peerages to former Tory ministers and aides. |
| The list includes ex-Tory leader William Hague and Mr Cameron's Downing Street "gatekeeper" Kate Fall. | The list includes ex-Tory leader William Hague and Mr Cameron's Downing Street "gatekeeper" Kate Fall. |
| The Lib Dems get 11 peers, with eight for Labour, making a total of 45 new Lords members, swelling the total size of the Upper House to 826. | The Lib Dems get 11 peers, with eight for Labour, making a total of 45 new Lords members, swelling the total size of the Upper House to 826. |
| The SNP branded it "a sorry list of rejected politicians, cronies and hangers-on with big chequebooks". | The SNP branded it "a sorry list of rejected politicians, cronies and hangers-on with big chequebooks". |
| Downing Street said it was normal practice for prime ministers to recognise their aides in dissolution honours lists. | Downing Street said it was normal practice for prime ministers to recognise their aides in dissolution honours lists. |
| Senior Labour figures to be elevated include former ministers David Blunkett, Alistair Darling and Tessa Jowell. | Senior Labour figures to be elevated include former ministers David Blunkett, Alistair Darling and Tessa Jowell. |
| Moat cleaning | Moat cleaning |
| Lingerie entrepreneur Michelle Mone, who was recently appointed by the government to carry out a review into how best to encourage start-ups in areas of high unemployment, is to become a Conservative peer. | Lingerie entrepreneur Michelle Mone, who was recently appointed by the government to carry out a review into how best to encourage start-ups in areas of high unemployment, is to become a Conservative peer. |
| BBC Political Correspondent Chris Mason said Mr Cameron's decision to award a peerage to Douglas Hogg, who famously claimed £2,200 on expenses to clean his moat, is already fuelling tabloid fury. | BBC Political Correspondent Chris Mason said Mr Cameron's decision to award a peerage to Douglas Hogg, who famously claimed £2,200 on expenses to clean his moat, is already fuelling tabloid fury. |
| The elevation of more Lib Dems than their entire cohort of MPs will raise an eyebrow or two as well, added our correspondent. | The elevation of more Lib Dems than their entire cohort of MPs will raise an eyebrow or two as well, added our correspondent. |
| Seven Lib Dems who lost their seats or stood down at the general election have been elevated to the Lords, including former leader Sir Menzies Campbell, Sir Alan Beith and Lynne Featherstone. | Seven Lib Dems who lost their seats or stood down at the general election have been elevated to the Lords, including former leader Sir Menzies Campbell, Sir Alan Beith and Lynne Featherstone. |
| Vince Cable and Danny Alexander, who are thought to have turned down the chance to enter the Lords, have been knighted. | Vince Cable and Danny Alexander, who are thought to have turned down the chance to enter the Lords, have been knighted. |
| There is also concern about the number of people now entitled to sit in the House of Lords - it is now the world's second largest legislative body after China's National People's Congress. | |
| Labour MP Lucy Powell said: "David Cameron's promise to cut the cost of politics lies in tatters. | Labour MP Lucy Powell said: "David Cameron's promise to cut the cost of politics lies in tatters. |
| "At the election the Tories said they would make the House of Lords smaller, but they have done the opposite, leaving taxpayers with a multimillion-pound bill for David Cameron's new peers." | "At the election the Tories said they would make the House of Lords smaller, but they have done the opposite, leaving taxpayers with a multimillion-pound bill for David Cameron's new peers." |
| Who is in the House of Lords? | Who is in the House of Lords? |
| Meg Russell, of the constitution unit at University College London, said Mr Cameron had now appointed more peers than Margaret Thatcher did in 11 years as prime minister. | Meg Russell, of the constitution unit at University College London, said Mr Cameron had now appointed more peers than Margaret Thatcher did in 11 years as prime minister. |
| "They can't have office space, they can't get into the canteen. It's inefficient as well as being expensive," she told BBC News. | "They can't have office space, they can't get into the canteen. It's inefficient as well as being expensive," she told BBC News. |
| Mr Cameron has said there is "no point" reviving coalition efforts to reform the Upper House, which stalled acrimoniously following a Tory backbench rebellion. | Mr Cameron has said there is "no point" reviving coalition efforts to reform the Upper House, which stalled acrimoniously following a Tory backbench rebellion. |
| He is seeking to boost his party's representation in the Lords, where he does not have a majority, to make it easier to get legislation through. | He is seeking to boost his party's representation in the Lords, where he does not have a majority, to make it easier to get legislation through. |
| The prime minister has showered his backroom staff with honours, including OBEs and MBEs. Downing Street gardener Paul Schooling and catering assistants Alison Depass and Marjorie Wallace, were awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for "public service". | The prime minister has showered his backroom staff with honours, including OBEs and MBEs. Downing Street gardener Paul Schooling and catering assistants Alison Depass and Marjorie Wallace, were awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for "public service". |
| Commenting on his elevation to the Lords, former home secretary David Blunkett said he was "very pleased indeed to be offered the opportunity of continuing to make a contribution to public policy". | Commenting on his elevation to the Lords, former home secretary David Blunkett said he was "very pleased indeed to be offered the opportunity of continuing to make a contribution to public policy". |
| He added: "My mother would have felt this to be the equivalent of riding in a luxury limousine whereas today, it is more like standing room only on the top of an extremely busy double decker bus! | He added: "My mother would have felt this to be the equivalent of riding in a luxury limousine whereas today, it is more like standing room only on the top of an extremely busy double decker bus! |
| "Optimistically, it may well be possible to block or delay the worst elements of the Conservative programme where this was not explicitly detailed in their manifesto and therefore legitimised in the general election." | "Optimistically, it may well be possible to block or delay the worst elements of the Conservative programme where this was not explicitly detailed in their manifesto and therefore legitimised in the general election." |