The politician, who has been serving as Channel 4 diversity executive is believed to have agreed to take up the post and is currently on a leave of absence from the House of Lords, where she has sat since 2011.

Google refused to comment on or verify the move.

The Evening Standard reported the announcement at a cross-party Commons event where King said of the move “It’s an amazing opportunity to go where the most exciting ideas are coming from.”

“It’s looking at the future of broadcasting, because YouTube is the future of broadcasting.”

She will be moving with her family to San Francisco to take up the role at the company’s head office.

Asked to explain her move, the Labour peer spoke out against party leader Jeremy Corbyn, saying that her decision would be “less likely” were someone else to be leading the party.  

She added, “I joined Labour because I wanted Britain to have a Labour Prime Minister. Until we change our leader I don’t think that is a possibility.”

However, she finished by saying that “But I’m an optimist. If it hadn’t happened I’d still be going to take the job. It just makes it easier to get on the plane.”