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Lord Knight (of Highbury?)

Peter Henley|18:00 UK time, Friday, 28 May 2010

Lord Knight

Dorset will continue to have a Labour voice in Parliament with the news that former MP Jim Knight has been made a life peer.

Dissolution Honours Lists are made with the approval of the Queen at the end of every Parliament, and provide outgoing Prime Ministers with an opportunity to reward colleagues. They also allow the new PM to appoint working peers.

Former Dorset South MP Labour MP Jim Knight qualifies on both counts. He's been a hard-working and loyal supporter of both Gordon Brown and Tony Blair before him. As schools minister, and an enthusiast for new technology, he's built up some enviable experience.

"When I lost my seat I was particularly concerned that Dorset had lost its only Labour voice in Parliament and I'm delighted to be able to provide that in this new role."

But he added that he doesn't want to get in the way of Conservative Richard Drax doing his work as local MP.

"He won fair and square and I will not set up a rival office dealing with casework and helping individuals. That is the MP's job."

"I will campaign on issues locally and nationally. I will use my new status to try to bring people together to improve things, and highlight problems as I see them in Dorset. I will want to continue to hear from people about these wider issues to inform my work."

So will it be Lord Jim? Or Knight of Weymouth on the red benches? As a lifelong Arsenal fan I suspect Lord Knight would be just as happy if the PM had left him a pass to see a different set of reds at the Emirates, but it doesn't quite have the same ring as Knight of Highbury.

And what about his previous campaigns to reform the House of Lords? Jim says

"I strongly believe that members of the second chamber should be 100% elected. The Lords themselves are seen as a block to this. I will join the Lords unashamedly as someone wanting to continue to campaign and vote for a fully democratic Parliament."

For the full list of peers from all parties click here.

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