Krish Raval OBE, Chair of the Labour Indians diaspora coalition and a prominent advocate for interfaith harmony, has been nominated for a life peerage in the House of Lords. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer included Raval among 30 Labour Party political peerages, which also features Sue Gray, his former chief of staff.
The nomination citation highlights Raval's dedication to fostering leadership and supporting the British Indian diaspora. It reads, “Krish Raval is the Founding Director of Faith in Leadership (FiL), which runs Britain’s longest-standing leadership development programme for faith communities at Windsor Castle. He coordinates its extensive alumni network across various sectors and institutions, encouraging collaboration throughout Britain and beyond.
“He was a Director of the Churchill Leadership Fellows, a national residency programme for young changemakers. Beginning his career in the private sector in Los Angeles, Raval transitioned to working with young people to support mental wellbeing and later focused on leadership development, advising businesses on decentralised strategies for the digital age.
“As Chair of Labour Indians, he supports the British Indian diaspora. He has held fellowships at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland and the University of Oxford. He has led projects at the University of Cambridge and maintains an affiliation with Dev Sanskriti University, India. In 2018, he was awarded an OBE for services to leadership education and interfaith cohesion.”
Championing Interfaith Leadership
In 2007, Raval founded Faith in Leadership to equip faith leaders with the skills to lead inter and intra-faith initiatives that benefit wider society. The organisation emphasises the crucial role of faith communities in societal and economic progress, advocating leadership guided by faith-driven values to serve people of all cultural and religious backgrounds.
Reacting to the nomination, Raval expressed his gratitude and outlined his vision, “May I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Labour family for their trust and confidence in nominating me as a peer. I am deeply humbled and eagerly look forward to advancing our vision for a renewed and dynamic Britain.
“The guiding principle of seva—the Dharmic ethos of selfless service—instilled in me by my parents, inspires my dedication to fostering community cohesion and championing international collaboration. I am deeply committed to promoting leadership and relationships that create pathways to mutual understanding and economic opportunity.
“This nomination is a testament to the brilliance, strength, and constancy of diverse communities and individuals. Together, we can contribute to a brighter, more unified future.”
A Changing House of Lords
The independent House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) will now vet the nominations, after which the Prime Minister will formally recommend them to King Charles. Once approved, the new members will receive Letters Patent from the King, enabling them to take their seat in the House of Lords.
Labour’s new nominations will help close the gap with Conservative representation in the Upper House. The current composition stands at 273 Conservatives, 187 Labour members, 78 Liberal Democrats, and 184 crossbench peers.
In addition to Raval, six Conservative Party nominees include former Deputy Prime Minister Thérèse Coffey, while the Liberal Democrats have nominated two new peers.
This nomination marks another significant milestone in Raval’s career, underscoring his commitment to leadership development and interfaith cohesion, as well as his role in strengthening the representation of the British Indian community in UK public life.
