Cumbrian politician Sue Hayman – or rather, Susan Hayman Baroness of Ullock in the county of Cumbria – took her seat in the House of Lords yesterday.

Baroness Hayman, who served as MP for Workington for five years, said it was an exciting moment.

“Everyone was so welcoming and it is a privilege to be here,” she added.

Her title includes the name of the village in which she and husband Ross live.

Baroness Hayman was nominated for a peerage in July by her former leader Jeremy Corbyn, in whose shadow cabinet she sat, and yesterday was her formal introduction.

She said: “It’s exciting – it’s been talked about quite a bit this year, but with Covid everything has been on hold.”

She will give her maiden speech later in the year.

Baroness Hayman said she hoped that being back in Westminster would allow her to carry on some of the work she was doing before, “particularly around the environment and climate change”.

Baroness Hayman’s investiture involved an oath of allegiance to the Queen, her heirs and successors.