Nick Forbes has become the third former leader of Newcastle City Council to be nominated for the House of Lords in 15 years. He will follow Jeremy Beecham and John Shipley to the red benches. Forbes was one of 34 new peers announced this week, including 25 Labour Party members, three Conservatives, five Liberal Democrats and a crossbencher.
Forbes was a member of the City Council for 22 years and leader for 11 until being deselected by his ward party in Arthur’s Hill in 2022.
Two former council leaders were appointed to the Lords in 2010 – Lord Beecham, who was Labour leader of the council between 1977 and 1994, and Lord Shipley, who was Lib Dem leader between 2006 and 2010. Beecham retired from the House in 2022.
Forbes’ appointment comes just days after a group of Newcastle residents called for more regional representation in the Lords, albeit in the contest of elected members, as reported by NEB.
It means that there will again be someone in the Lords who is familiar with the problems of Newcastle’s West End, one of the most deprived areas of England. Arthur’s Hill is not far from the Benwell & Scotswood ward so long represented by Beecham.
