Birthday Honours: Brexit rebel, Starmer ally and ex-Tory MP recognised
A prominent Labor MP and close colleague of Sir Keir Starmer has been appointed Woman of the King’s Birthday Honours; Two former senior Conservative figures and political diarist Chris Mullin were also knighted.
Jessica Morden, who chairs the Parliamentary Labor Party (PLP), has been crowned dame after two decades representing Newport East.
Dame Jessica, who describes herself as “mostly a backroom girl”, served as general secretary of the Welsh Labor Party from 1999 until her election to Parliament in 2005.
He served as Sir Keir’s parliamentary aide during Labor’s time in opposition and is considered a key ally.
Following the 2024 general election, she took on the role of PLP chairperson, often referred to as a “shop steward” for Labor MPs.
Reacting to her ladyship, she said: “It has clearly been a reward and a privilege to be MP for Newport East for the last 21 years.
“However, it is very kind of me to be recognized for the work I have done in the Labor Party over the last 35 years, much of it behind the scenes.”
Other political honors this year included knighthoods for former Conservative MPs David Gauke and Greg Hands.
Sir David served as Cabinet ministers under Theresa May, including as Justice Secretary, but was sacked by Boris Johnson after rebelling over Brexit and subsequently lost his seat in the 2019 general election.
But it is his work on the independent sentencing review commissioned by the current Government that has earned him the knighthood.
Sir David’s review recommended an overhaul of the justice system, including scrapping most sentences of less than 12 months and greater use of community sentences, to prevent repeated crises in prison capacity.
Telling PA it was “a real honour”, Sir David said: “It reflects the work of the independent criminal review and I think, in fairness, great praise goes to the other panel members and officials who worked on the project.
“Ultimately, we have produced a serious study that examined the evidence and put forward a set of recommendations that have been largely implemented to help us avoid a prison crisis like the one we had a few months ago.”
This year’s honors list also included former Labor Secretary Chris Mullin, who was knighted.
Sir Chris, 78, was the Sunderland South MP from 1987 to 2010, serving as a junior minister under Sir Tony Blair and later publishing a best-selling series of his diaries from that period.
He is also the author of four novels, including A Very British Coup, about the undermining of a left-wing government, and previously worked as a journalist for ITV and played a key role in the launch of Birmingham Six.
Sir Chris told PA: “At this late stage in my life, I am grateful for all the recognition that comes my way.”
