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. 63: Martin Howe QC
A reader from Essex writes:
"Martin Howe QC should be be nominated for a peerage.
"To some, he is the kind of dry, conservative lawyer, who represents exactly the opposite of the modern Conservative Party. However, he was an early addition to the infamous ‘A’ List, suggesting he was in favour at CCHQ at that time. This is hardly surprising given his talent and expertise. He has the personal endorsement of Cameron insider, Michael Gove, on his CV, but has not been pushed sufficiently by CCHQ to get interviews in safe seats. He previously fought Aberavon for the Conservatives, and has served as a Kensington and Chelsea Borough Councillor. Perhaps being Geoffrey Howe’s nephew has proved a handicap, though their respective views on Thatcher and Europe are chalk and cheese.
"Martin has authored a series of papers about the impact of EU law on Parliament and the UK constitution. He has become a tried and trusted adviser to Conservative ministers and ex-ministers for more than a nearly two decades. Most recently, his Politeia paper on a Sovereignty Act has become the basis of Conservative policy. It is understood that he has advised William Hague on his potential negotiating leverage under the treaties post-Lisbon ratification and on how the UK can reclaim control of crime and justice affairs. He helps the Home Affairs team as part of the Bill of Rights policy commission. Again, manifesto policy reflects what he has advocated. He has also contributed to the work of Iain Duncan Smith’s Centre for Social Justice on courts and sentencing. His EU expertise is based on his extensive experience representing cases up to and including the European Court of Justice, in the field of intellectual property, in which he is acknowledged as the renowned expert in his field.
"He would be a natural Attorney or Solicitor General; given the shortage of up-to-date lawyers on the Conservative benches in the Lords, and the lack of friends David Cameron has amongst them for his EU and ECHR policies, he would seem to be an indispensable, as well as a deserving, addition to the Upper House. The Party would be mistaken to take such expertise for granted. Does he have to work out the value of his legal advice to the Party over the years, and insist it is registered as a donation to get noticed?"
You can read more about Martin on his website.
> Previous nomination: Jonathan Fisher QC
