Essex Emeritus Professor nominated for a peerage

Prem Sikka, Emeritus Professor of Accounting at Essex Business School, has been nominated for a Peerage of the United Kingdom for Life, meaning he is to become a member of the House of Lords.

Professor Sikka is one of 36 people to be put forward by the Government for the honour this summer and was originally nominated by the former Labour leader, the Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP.

Speaking of his nomination, Professor Sikka said: “I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve the people.

“Throughout my academic research at Essex I have sought to give visibility to all that is marginalised, ignored and swept under the rug, and in the quest for social injustice I shall continue to do the same so that everyone can live a fulfilling life.

“I very much hope that people will help me with this quest”.

A Professor of Accounting at Essex for over 20 years, Professor Sikka is a leading authority in the fields of corporate governance and tax evasion.

In 2018 he led a Labour-commissioned inquiry that recommended radical changes designed to tighten up Britain’s accounting industry. Professor Sikka’s report suggested a cap on the number of audit clients large companies could have, and came in the wake of the collapse of companies such as Carillion and BHS.

Read the report here

Following his nomination, it is expected Her Majesty the Queen will formalise Professor Sikka’s appointment to the House of Lords later this year.