'A testament to the communities I've served': West Yorkshire deputy mayor Alison Lowe appointed to House of Lords
Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, is among 26 new peers appointed to the House of Lords
West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is one of 26 new peers to be given seats in the House of Lords by outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Alison Lowe OBE, who has held the role since being appointed by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin in 2021, was nominated today alongside familiar names such as London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The list published by No 10 today features 16 Labour peers, along with five Liberal Democrats, three Conservatives and two crossbench members.
Speaking of the nomination, Leeds-born Lowe said she was deeply honoured to have been appointed to the House of Lords.
“This recognition is not just a personal privilege, but a testament to the communities, colleagues and campaigners I have had the opportunity to work alongside throughout my life in public service,” she said.
"It is particularly poignant that this announcement comes on my father's birthday. Although no longer with us, he has been a constant source of inspiration, having come from the Windrush generation.
"As Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, I remain wholly committed to serving the people of West Yorkshire and look forward to bringing their voices and experiences to Parliament.”
Ms Lowe was raised in Seacroft and has spent more than 30 years in the voluntary sector. She represented Armley on Leeds City Council from 1990 to 2019.
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to mental health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Praising her colleague, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: "Alison has worked tirelessly to make our region a safer, fairer place.
"She has spent decades standing up for those who need it most and this peerage is recognition that she has so much to offer on a national level.
"The House of Lords is a better place with Alison in it, and I look forward to continuing our work together in her role as Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime."