A COTSWOLD billionaire is one of 30 people who have been given a seat in the House of Lords after being granted a peerage.

JCB boss Sir Anthony Bamford, who lives with his family in the village of Daylesford, has been made a Conservative peer after years of making generous donations to the party.

Sir Anthony, who is chairman and managing director of family firm JCB, was recently commissioned by the government to prepare a report on UK manufacturing and has been described by a Tory source as a “leading industrialist who has made a massive contribution to British business”.

However, many members of the opposition parties have criticised Mr Bamford’s appointment claiming that his peerage comes as a thank you for reportedly donating £5million to the Conservatives.

Labour MP Steve McCabe said: “It’s another example of the Prime Minister standing up for his wealthy donor friends while families see their living standards fall.”

Justice Campaigner Doreen Lawrence and James Palumbo, the head of the Ministry of Sound, were also included on the list of working peers.

A spokesman for JCB said: “Sir Anthony is looking forward to making a positive contribution on key business and industry issues, particularly in relation to manufacturing, engineering and exporting.”