Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.
If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.
No. 60: General Sir Mike Jackson
James Dancer writes:
"Former Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson saw service in all of the major operations of the post-Cold War period from Northern Ireland to Sierra Leone and Iraq, and brings an understanding of the entire breadth of British military, diplomatic and intelligence strength.
"Known well to his senior counterparts in the militaries of the US and other allies, he has served under governments of all political stripes since the 1960s.
"General Jackson might prefer to sit as a crossbench peer but would be strongly supportive of our determination to create an effective National Security Council, to repair the military covenant, support veterans and maintain the transatlantic alliance.
"Having acted with perhaps excess enthusiasm in bringing in other senior military figures as advisers, the appointment of a former CGS as a neutral backbench peer would underline our commitment to create an effective and expert second chamber.
"The next government, through the strategic defence review and our other reforms, will shape our role in the world for decades to come: a voice as distinctive and experienced as that of Mike Jackson should be heard in Parliament.
> Previous nomination: Gyles Brandreth
