City council leader selected to be Labour Party Peer in House of Lords

The leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Judith Blake, has been selected to be a Labour Party Peer in the House of Lords.

Cllr Blake was named among the new Peers announced by the Government today.

She has served as leader of Leeds City Council since 2015 and before that was deputy leader since 2010. She has been a councillor in Leeds for 24 years.

Responding to the announcement, Cllr Blake said: “I am honoured to be selected to join the House of Lords at this hugely important time.

“It has been a great privilege to serve as Leader of my home city of Leeds for the last five and a half years.

“Joining the House of Lords will allow me to continue to represent the interests of our city in Westminster.

“It has never been more important to have regional voices with experience of local government represented at a national level.”

Cllr Blake will start discussions in the New Year to ensure a smooth transition for when she steps down as leader of Leeds City Council.

Alongside Cllr Blake, the former Archbishop of York who retired from the role in June following 15 years in the post, Dr John Sentamu will be appointed as a crossbench, non-party, peer.