JK Rowling turned down peerage twice - and would not accept if offered again

JK Rowling has revealed she turned down two offers of a peerage and would not accept one if offered again.

The Harry Potter author made the revelation after Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch said she would offer Rowling a peerage after praising her for her contributions to the transgender debate.

Rowling posted on X: "It's considered bad form to talk about this but I'll make an exception given the very particular circumstances.

"I've already turned down a peerage twice, once under Labour and once under the Tories.

"If offered one a third time, I still wouldn't take it.

"It's not her, it's me."

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Rowling has been an outspoken figure in the gender debate, frequently advocating for spaces for biological women to be protected, and speaking up about trans issues in the sports industry.

The author was among those who welcomed the Cass review into NHS children's gender identity services, which led to NHS England ending the prescription of puberty blockers for children experiencing gender dysphoria.

Ms Badenoch told the Talk online streaming service that Rowling and Dr Hilary Cass, the author of the Cass review, were "attacked relentlessly by all sorts of oddballs and bad people".

The Conservative MP was then asked if she would give Rowling a peerage.

She said: "I would. I don't know whether she would take it.

"I certainly would give her a peerage."

Lady Cass has been appointed to the House of Lords as an independent after being awarded a peerage by Conservative leader Rishi Sunak earlier this year.

Rowling, whose seven Harry Potter books were published between 1997 and 2007, did not say which Labour and Conservative prime ministers had offered her a seat in the Lords.

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She was a vocal supporter of the Labour Party under Gordon Brown, who is also a close friend, but was heavily critical of the party under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.

The author has also raised concerns over Labour's position on gender-related issues under Sir Keir Starmer.

Rowling has not previously spoken publicly about her views on the honours system but said she did this time to save her from being accused of being "right wing" or being "disappointed she hasn't got one [a peerage] because of her evil bigotry".