Youngest-ever peer, 27, only got the job because she is a woman - after party vote she lost to a man was overruled

• Decision to nominate Carmen Smith branded as ‘extraordinary’ by opponents 

Britain’s youngest life peer has been appointed because she is a woman – and despite her party’s opposition to the House of Lords, it emerged last night.

The decision by Plaid Cymru to nominate Carmen Smith, 27, its ex-chief of staff at the Welsh Senedd, has been branded as ‘extraordinary’ by opponents.

She is one of 13 new peers – and chosen due to her party’s rules promoting female representation.

The previous youngest peer, Charlotte Owen, was appointed last year aged 30.

It is understood Plaid Cymru was offered a second life peerage as its only current member of the Lords, Dafydd Wigley, 80, is due to retire.

The decision by Plaid Cymru to nominate Carmen Smith (pictured), 27, its ex-chief of staff at the Welsh Senedd, has been branded as ‘extraordinary’ by opponents

The previous youngest peer, Charlotte Owen (pictured in red), was appointed last year aged 30

Baroness Smith’s appointment comes despite her reportedly finishing second when the Welsh nationalist party ran a poll of members for nomination to the Lords.

In December, she was said to have received only 70 votes, while Elfyn Llwyd, a former Plaid Cymru MP and Parliamentary leader, polled 180.

And last October, Lady Smith took up her current job as a lobbyist for controversial wind farm developer Bute Energy, which was accused of offering a Welsh farmer ‘cash and a night out at a lap dancing club if he agreed to having a giant wind turbine on his land’.

READ MORE: High-flying barrister once removed from BA flight by armed police after furious row with cabin crew who refused to let his children’s nanny join them in business class is among 13 new life peers announced by No10 

The claim was made during a public meeting of a community council last August but denied by the Scottish company, which called it ‘absurd’.

It also emerged she could earn nearly £3million if she attended all sessions of the Lords until retirement age of 66. Peers can claim an allowance of £332 per day they attend the Lords, which sat for 220 days last year – totalling £73,040 for peers who were there each day.

Lady Smith could attend for the next 39 years before she reaches the retirement age of 66 – during which she could have earned almost £2.85million based on the maximum possible allowance for 2022/3.

Welsh Tory leader David T. C. Davies MP said: ‘People will find this appointment extraordinary.

‘Many eyebrows will be raised at the irony of Plaid Cymru continuing to send people to the House of Lords despite being in favour of its opposition.’

And a Labour source said: ‘This is a party which wants the House of Lords scrapped. It’s a bit rich of Plaid Cymru to want to have their cake and eat it.’

Another Westminster source said: ‘This is about Plaid Cymru having a real problem with finding enough women to represent them.

‘When Boris Johnson nominated (former Downing Street adviser) Charlotte Owen as the previous youngest peer aged 30 last year, that was rightly criticised, but Carmen Smith is three years younger.’

Charles Banner (pictured) was announced last week as one of 13 new life peers chosen by Downing street

John Fuller, who is the leader of South Norfolk Council, was another member of the Tories to get a peerage

Disability rights campaigner Rosa Monckton was nominated by the Conservatives

Lady Smith’s selection was announced in an email sent to Plaid Cymru members by chief executive Owen Roberts on December 5, who said the decision was in accordance with party rules ‘to promote the representation of women’.

Defeated candidate Elfyn Llwyd yesterday stressed there were ‘no sour grapes’, but, at the time, one longstanding party member said the decision was ‘disgraceful’ as a woman had been imposed ‘but not explained’.

Last night, Plaid Cymru defended Lady Smith’s appointment and also said she would take up the role as a ‘full-time position’, ceasing any employment.

Baroness Smith has said she did not regard the position as ‘a job for the rest of your life’ and only aimed to serve for ‘five years’.

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