The Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews Gillian Merron is to be made a life peer.

The former Labour MP for Lincoln was nominated by Sir Keir Starmer and will join the House of Lords in the New Year.

Reacting to the announcement by Downing Street, Ms Merron said: “I am deeply honoured to have been appointed.

"I have made it my life’s work to serve the country in whatever ways I can, whether in the trade unions, as MP for Lincoln, as a government minister and now alongside the outstanding lay and professional team at the Board of Deputies. I am very much looking forward to taking my place in the House of Lords.”

Born in Ilford, Essex, Ms Merron was the MP for Lincoln between 1997 and 2010. She was also Minister of State for Public Health.

She had worked in local government and as a NUPE  (later UNISON) official.

She became the Board’s chief executive in 2014.

Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board  said: “At the Board of Deputies, we are all absolutely delighted at the announcement that our Chief Executive Gillian Merron is to be made a peer.

“After decades of public service, in the trade union movement, as MP for Lincoln, as a Government Minister, and most recently as our much loved and highly respected chief executive, I can think of nobody more deserving of such an accolade.

“This is a great appointment which will be of great service to the whole country and we could not be prouder. Mazal Tov Gillian!”

Dean Godson, the director of the think-tank Policy Exchange and Sir Terence Etherton QC were also amongst the other appointments confirmed on Tuesday.