Controversial Johnson Peerages Face Scrutiny After 18-Month Legal Battle

A tribunal ruling reveals limited justification for House of Lords appointments of two former advisers, raising transparency concerns.

Baroness Charlotte Owen and Lord Ross Kempsell, former advisers to Boris Johnson, were appointed to the House of Lords in his 2023 resignation honours list.
The reasons for their appointments were deemed 'inadequate' and lacking evidence of significant achievements by transparency campaigner Martin Rosenbaum.
A legal battle lasting 18 months forced the release of nomination citations, which highlighted their roles in Johnson's government during the pandemic.
The tribunal ruled in favor of public interest, overturning the House of Lords Appointments Commission’s initial refusal to disclose the information.
Critics argue the lack of transparency undermines public trust in the process of granting political powers through peerages.