Another life peer: Alan Whitehead

[David Beamish]

The Prime Minister has appointed another minister who is to become a life peer:

The King has been pleased to approve the appointment of Dr Alan Whitehead CBE as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
His Majesty has also been pleased to signify His intention of conferring a Peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on Dr Alan Whitehead CBE.

See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-11-november-2025

From Who’s Who: He was born 15 September 1950 and was a Labour MP from 1997 until standing down in 2024. Full forenames are Alan Patrick Vincent.

[David Beamish]

Lord Whitehead's letters patent were sealed yesterday (19 November) and he was introduced in the House of Lords today. Forenames in the letters patent are Alan Patrick Vincent as in my earlier post. He is Lord Whitehead "of St Mary's in the City of Southampton".

He was MP for Southampton Test and, according to Wikipedia, plays in the Parliamentary football team. St Mary's Stadium is the home ground of Southampton F.C.

[David Beamish]

The House of Lords Minutes show (https://lordsbusiness.parliament.uk/ItemOfBusiness?itemOfBusinessId=162898&sectionId=40&businessPaperDate=2025-11-20) that the letters patent spell out "Saint", i.e.  "of Saint Mary's in the City of Southampton". My apologies.

[S. S.]

Just an observation, but "Saint" in full is not commonly used in peerage titles, either as part of title or the territorial designation, well till the 19th century anyway.

S.S.