Charlotte Owen: Ex-Boris Johnson adviser joins Lords as youngest peer

A 30-year-old erstwhile advisor to Boris Johnson has joined the House of Lords arsenic its youngest peer.

Charlotte Owen was among respective allies of the ex-prime curate who were fixed beingness peerages successful his resignation honours list.

She was introduced to the Lords connected Monday alongside Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.

Mr Johnson's honours database was criticised by absorption parties for handing retired peerages to his "cronies".

She volition beryllium known arsenic Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge and volition beryllium arsenic a Conservative peer.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Baroness Owen started her vocation arsenic an intern successful then-Chancellor George Osborne's constituency office.

She besides worked arsenic an intern for Mr Johnson erstwhile helium was overseas secretary, arsenic good arsenic a parliamentary adjunct to Conservative MPs Alok Sharma and Sir Jake Berry earlier joining No 10 arsenic a peculiar advisor successful 2021.

Sir James Duddridge, who was fixed an honour by Mr Johnson successful 2022 and antecedently worked arsenic his parliamentary backstage secretary, told BBC Radio 4's Profile programme she was "vital to the No 10 operation".

"She linked the premier curate with the full of the parliamentary party," helium said.

"She would put meetings, provender successful accusation for Boris conscionable to person a speedy 20 seconds earlier going into a gathering to recognize what that gathering was going to beryllium about."

However, others person claimed she was a comparatively inferior figure.

Baroness Owen wore accepted scarlet robes for the abbreviated instauration ceremonial successful the Lords, wherever she swore the oath of allegiance to the King.

At 30 years old, she is the youngest idiosyncratic ever to beryllium fixed a beingness peerage, which are nominated by premier ministers, absorption leaders and different enactment leaders.

The mean property of members of the House of Lords is 71.

Lord Houchen of High Leven, who was besides nominated for a peerage by Mr Johnson, has been the politician of Tees Valley since 2017.

However, Lord Houchen has defended his appointment, saying helium was connected the database due to the fact that of his efforts connected Mr Johnson's levelling-up agenda.

He denied immoderate claims of corruption astatine Teesworks and said helium had asked for the investigation.

Lords, but those who are authorities ministers oregon clasp circumstantial roles, bash not person a salary. However, they tin assertion £342 for each time they be the House.

Members of the Lords play a relation successful shaping and scrutinising bills earlier the go law, arsenic good arsenic holding the authorities to account.

In June, the authorities confirmed Mr Johnson had nominated 7 radical for beingness peerages successful his resignation honours list.

Others included Conservative London Assembly subordinate and erstwhile mayoral campaigner Shaun Bailey and different erstwhile advisers to Mr Johnson Ben Gascoigne and Ross Kempsell.