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Belfast Live
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Lauren Harte

Arlene Foster and Peter Weir nominated for House of Lords peerages

Stormont's former First Minister Arlene Foster has been nominated for a peerage in the House of Lords.

The ex-DUP leader has received the peerage from Downing Street and will sit in the Lords as a non-affiliated member.

It was also announced that former Education Minister and Strangford MLA Peter Weir, will join her on the red benches as a DUP member.

Read more: Arlene Foster to become House of Lords peer 'within days'

The former Northern Ireland Office minster Hugo Swire is among those also nominated for a peerage.

The Prime Minister Liz Truss recommended the list to King Charles III, on advice from her predecessor Boris Johnson.

Dame Arlene, who was honoured in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee birthday honours list, stepped down as DUP leader and First Minister last year after an internal party revolt.

The former MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone has since joined GB News as a presenter and contributor and writes a number of newspaper columns.

In the summer, she hosted live GB News coverage of the Twelfth of July parades after encouraging the channel to step in when BBC Northern Ireland axed the live segment of its programming.

Dame Arlene is also set to launch a new group, the Together UK Foundation, saying it will make "the positive, rational case" for maintaining the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile Mr Weir lost his seat in Strangford in May's Assembly election. He had been an MLA since 1998 when the Assembly was first created following the Good Friday Agreement and served as education minister from 2020-21.

Mr Weir said he is "honoured and humbled to be appointed to the Lords".

"I will be operating as a full-time working Peer, advocating on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland, and promoting the great cause of the Union," he said.

"Northern Ireland needs stability and prosperity, and alongside my colleagues at Westminster, the Assembly and local Councils, I will focus on delivering those twin objectives, particularly through the necessary removal of the Protocol, which acts as a barrier to good governance and the economic well-being of our people.

"I am very grateful to my many friends and colleagues who have supported and worked with me over many years and with the opening of this new chapter I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve the people of Northern Ireland in Parliament."

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson congratulated both on their elevation.

"Peter Weir has given a lifetime of service to his constituents and to the Pro-Union cause in Northern Ireland," he said.

"He will be a very welcome addition to our Parliamentary team in the House of Lords as well as a strong advocate for Northern Ireland and the Pro-Union cause throughout the United Kingdom.

"I am also delighted that our friend and former first minister Rt Hon Dame Arlene Foster has been conferred a peerage and will sit in the Lords.

"Arlene will be a strong voice for Northern Ireland and this is rightful and worthy recognition for her contribution and service to Northern Ireland.

"We look forward to working closely with her in the time ahead."

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