Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson to join House of Lords

By Paul Carter

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is to become a peer following a recommendation from the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

The former Paralympian will join the Lords as one of four new crossbench peers, though her formal title has yet to be decided.

Grey-Thompson, who sits on many boards including Transport for London, UK Athletics and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG), said her new role was “a great honour”.

She added that she would be looking to engage in debates around wider disability issues such as health and assisted suicide and not just sport.

Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics said that Grey-Thompson’s “passion and dedication” is “obvious to all.”

“I would like to pass on my warmest congratulations to Baroness Grey Thompson. This is an honour that reflects not only her unrivalled success on the track, but also her commitment to athletics and the Paralympic movement since retiring,” he said.