Top honour for “liberal lion” Shirley Williams Baroness (Shirley) Williams, whose parliamentary career stretches back more than half a century, was named as a Companion of Honour. […]

Baroness (Shirley) Williams, whose parliamentary career stretches back more than half a century, was named as a Companion of Honour.

“She is a hero of mine and many, many others” Lib Dem leader Tim Farron The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

The 86-year-old Liberal Democrat peer was a Labour Cabinet minister under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan and as Education Secretary championed the abolition of grammar schools.

She was one of the Gang of Four who left the party to set up the SDP in 1981.

Lady Williams became a life peer in 1993 and served as the Lib Dem leader in the Lords between 2001 and 2004. She retired from active service in the Lords earlier this year.

Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, said: “Shirley is a liberal lion. She is a hero of mine and many, many others. She is a tireless and doughty campaigner for progressive politics. Britain is a better place because of her.

“Shirley is also an inspiration for female politicians across the world. She is a trailblazer who has shown girls, like my own, that they can do anything they want to with skill, determination and passion.”

Knighthood for ex-pensions minister

Steve Webb, the former Lib Dem pensions minister, said it was “humbling and unexpected” to receive a knighthood in the New Year honours.

He lost his seat at the last election and is now director of policy and the pensions and insurance group Royal London.

As a minister in the coalition government between 2010 and 2015, he was at the helm for a series of reforms to the pensions system.

A knighthood went to David Crausby, who has been the Labour MP for Bolton North East for almost 20 years.

Julian Brazier, a former defence minister and a Tory MP since 1987, was also knighted.

Neena Gill, the Labour MEP for the West Midlands between 1999 and 2009, and who was re-elected in 2014, received the CBE.