ENGLAND cricket great Sir Ian Botham opened his first innings at a different kind of Lords.
Lord Botham wore a traditional scarlet and ermine-trimmed robe for his brief formal introduction ceremony as a peer in the House of Lords.
More used to the surroundings of Lord’s cricket ground, the 64-year-old swore an oath to the Queen.
But when a technical glitch delayed the start, Lord Speaker Norman Fowler said: “I think that rain has stopped play just for the moment.”
Lord Botham also told the chamber: “I, Ian Lord Botham, do swear by almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and her successors, according to the law. So help me God.”
The PM nominated 36 new peers in his dissolution honours list – including Lord Botham.
The list included his brother Jo Johnson which led to accusations of ‘cronyism’.
Lord Botham enjoyed a glittering cricket career, at one stage becoming England’s leading wicket-taker in tests, and is also known for his TV and charity work.
Tory peer Lord Moylan was also introduced on Monday.
He served as airport adviser to Boris Johnson when he was London mayor.
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