Is Michael Cashman about to be made a peer?

Rumours have been circulating all week about the possibility of Michael Cashman being elevated to the House of Lord to become a Labour peer – and now it seems that it could happen as early as this week.

Former Eastenders star Cashman stood down as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the West Midlands this May, after 15 years in the role. This would not be his first award; he received a CBE last year for public and political service.

Now it seems Ed Miliband plans to give Cashman a place in the upper chamber, and potentially a Cabinet role if Labour win the election next May. Cameron is apparently ready to announce a list of new Lords this week, with Labour allotted three slots. We understand that Cashman will likely be one of them, but the other two names are not currently known.

UPDATE: A source tells us that Chris Lennie could be the second name on the list for Labour. No news on the third. Read Hopi Sen’s tribute to Lennie on his last day working for the Labour Party two years ago.

LabourList will make sure you know as soon as we do.