Free speech champion Toby Young is among six new Tory peers nominated by Kemi Badenoch, Downing Street announced last night.
The author of How to Lose Friends & Alienate People is the founder and director of the Free Speech Union.
He will take his place in the House of Lords next year, along with Liz Truss‘s deputy prime minister Dame Therese Coffey and former Tory housing minister Rachel Maclean.
Oxford professor Nigel Biggar, former deputy mayor of London Roger Evans and Joanne Cash, a barrister and co-founder of Parent Gym, were also nominated by Mrs Badenoch.
The Tory leader last night described her appointments as ‘true radicals’ who are ‘proven leaders’.
Writing on the ConservativeHome website, Mrs Badenoch said: ‘My first list of appointments to the Lords are people who operate from first principles – Conservative principles.
‘They have a track record of defending conservatism against the long march of the left in our institutions.
‘In particular, they have helped other Conservatives in need with little fanfare or publicity and put the hard graft in difficult and thankless jobs for no credit. They are proven leaders who don’t carp on the sidelines but get stuff done.’
The author of How to Lose Friends & Alienate People Toby Young is the founder and director of the Free Speech Union
Mr Young is among six new Tory peers nominated by Kemi Badenoch at Downing Street on Friday night
Mr Young, who is a prominent proponent of free schools and set one up in west London, said last night: ‘Delighted that the work of the Free Speech Union has been recognised in this way – and congratulations to our Chairman, Nigel Biggar, who’s also been given a peerage.
‘I look forward to working with the Leader of the Opposition on how to restore free speech to pride of place in our democracy and repair the damage Keir Starmer has done to this vital human right when she succeeds him as our next Prime Minister.’
Overall, 38 new appointments were announced, with six from the Tories and two from the Liberal Democrats, as well as the 30 from Labour.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey nominated Mark Pack who has been president of the party since 2020 and Sheffield City Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, a former chair of the Liberal Democrat Carers Commission.