Alderley Edge woman, 30, who is Boris Johnson's ex-adviser becomes youngest House of Lords peer
25.07.2023 - 09:35
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A former adviser to Boris Johnson has become the youngest peer in the House of Lords after taking her seat in the unelected chamber.
Charlotte Owen, who is 30, will be known as Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge and will sit as a Conservative peer. She was nominated to the Lords in the former prime minister's controversial resignation honours list released in June.
Lady Owen, reportedly a former pupil of the private Alderley Edge School for Girls in Cheshire, is the youngest life peer announced that the House of Lords is aware of, with its records of peerages announced stretching back to 1958. But the Lords added its records show examples of hereditary peers who became members at a younger age than Lady Owen.
Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.
Lady Owen's introduction was followed by that of Conservative Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, who will be known as Lord Houchen of High Leven. The pair wore the traditional scarlet robes for their short introduction ceremonies.
A cross-party Lords report last week said Mr Johnson’s exit honours had 'brought into question' the current appointments system for creating new peers.
Lady Owen’s biography issued by the House of Lords stated she graduated from the University of York in 2015 with a degree in politics and international relations. It adds she worked as a parliamentary assistant to Conservative MPs Alok Sharma, Mr Johnson and Sir Jake Berry from 2017 until 2021.
Lady Owen then worked as an adviser to Mr Johnson as prime minister, his successor Liz Truss and then chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris between 2021 and 2022.
Lord Houchen, 36, worked as a solicitor from 2009 to 2015 and chief executive of BLK Sport UK from 2016