Margaret Hodge, Chair of College Council for Royal Holloway, University of London, has been appointed to the House of Lords.

Labour leader and Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, nominated Baroness Hodge to her peerage after she stood down as the Member of Parliament for Barking. This prestigious recognition is a testament to her outstanding contributions and commitment to public service.

After serving as the Leader of Islington London Borough Council from 1982 to 1992, she was elected as the Member of Parliament for Barking and Dagenham from 1994 – 2024. In her time as a Member of Parliament, she served as a Minister in the Governments of Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, holding portfolios in the Departments for Education, Work and Pensions, Business, and Culture. She was the first Children’s Minister from 2003 to 2005, Minister for Universities from 2001-2003 and Minister for the Arts and the Creative Industries. She served as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee from 2010-2015.

Baroness Hodge has been Chair of College Council, the governing body of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College since 2018.

The University congratulates Baroness Hodge for this distinguished honour.