Lords of the Blog

…was a Labour Party MP from 1979, first for the constituency of Hammersmith North, then Hammersmith and finally Ealing, Acton and Shepherd’s Bush from 1997 to 2005. He was Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party from 1997 to 2001. In 2005 it was announced that he would be given a life peerage, and on 29 June 2005 he was created Baron Soley, of Hammersmith in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. He enjoys walking, photography and scuba diving. He has been blogging since 2003 and has played a leading role in developing this blog.

…was appointed Professor of Government at the University of Hull in 1986 at the age of 35. In 1992 he also became Director of the Centre for Legislative Studies. In 1998 he was elevated to the House of Lords as Lord Norton of Louth. He chaired the Conservative Party’s Commission to Strengthen Parliament, which reported in 2000. From 2001 to 2004 he was Chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution. He is the author or editor of 28 books.

…is a British scientist and Convenor (Leader) of the Crossbench Peers in the House of Lords. She graduated from University College, London with a Bachelor of Science in anthropology in 1970 and graduated from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford with a Doctor of Philosophy in 1976. Baroness D’Souza worked for the Nuffield Institute of Comparative Medicine from 1973 to 1977, the Oxford Polytechnic from 1977 to 1980 and was independent research consultant for the UN from 1985 to 1988. She was created a life Peer as Baroness D’Souza, of Wychwood in the County of Oxfordshire on 1 July 2004. Baroness D’Souza is married and has two children.

Find out more about the Crossbenchers – visit the Crossbench Peers website.

…was raised to the peerage as Baron Lipsey, of Tooting Bec in the London Borough of Wandsworth 1999. He has been a political adviser to Anthony Crosland in Opposition and an adviser to 10 Downing Street. He has worked as a journalist for a variety of different publications including The Sunday Times, Sunday Correspondent, The Times and The Economist. In his spare time he likes to do the following: golf, harness, horse and greyhound racing, opera, walking and cooking.

…was MP for Bodmin February-October 1974 and MP for North Cornwall 1992-2005. He was the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Agriculture and Rural Affairs. He was also Chief Whip, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Spokesperson for Constitutional Reform. Paul retired as an MP at the 2005 General Election and was subsequently made a life Peer. He now chairs the Faiths and Civil Society Unit at the Anglia Ruskin University, based in Cambridge and Chelmsford. In the Lords, he is Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Constitutional Affairs. His official title is Baron Tyler, of Linkinhorne in the County of Cornwall.

…became a life Peer in 1997 and is a frontbench spokesperson for Communities. He was also elected to the post of Liberal Democrat Party President in 1999 and in 2002. In November 2004 he was elected joint Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Peers. In 1969 he became Secretary of the Liberal Party’s Race and Community Relations Panel. Then, from 1976, Lord Dholakia worked for the Commission for Racial Equality and, most recently, was a member of the Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain. His political interests also encompass criminal justice and penal affairs. He has been involved in the Sussex Police Authority, the Police Complaints Authority and as a council member of the Howard League for Penal Reform since 1992. He is married and has two daughters.

…was Member of the European Parliament for Cornwall and West Plymouth between 1994 and 1999, becoming one of the first two Liberal Democrats elected to the European Parliament. He was Chief Whip of the European Liberal Democrat Group from 1997 to 1999. In Europe he spoke on marine, transport and regional policy issues. He joined the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords in 2006, speaking on climate change and energy issues. He is now the Party’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman in the Lords.

…is a British artist, teacher and Crossbench Peer. She worked as a professional actor from 1976 to 1984 and was a residential social worker in the London Borough of Islington from 1971 to 1973. Her most prominent role was in the children’s sitcom Metal Mickey which ran from 1980 – 1983. In 1985, she became co-director and training and development manager at the Haringey Arts Council, a post she held until 1989. From 1990 to 1992, she was lecturer in media studies at the Polytechnic of West London. She was lecturer, senior lecturer, principal lecturer, Professor of Cultural Studies and, in the end, Emeritus Professor at the Middlesex University. She became Project Director of the Archives and Museum of Black Heritage in 1997, Commissioner in the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts in 2000 and 2001 and Chair at the Nitro Theatre Company in 2004. In the same year, she was created a life peer as Baroness Young of Hornsey, of Hornsey in the London Borough of Haringey. She is married with one son.

…is a Crossbench Peer. After qualifying as a doctor and later teaching as an academic in the NHS for 25 years, she spent a period as a Health Service general manager between 1984 and 1990 which included the post of District General Manager for Lewisham and North Southwark Health Authority. Most recently she was Professor of Psychiatry of Old Age at Guy’s Hospital, and was Chair of the North East London Strategic Health Authority until 30 June 2006. Baroness Murphy is currently Chair of Council at St George’s, University of London , a non-executive board member of Monitor (Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trust Hospitals) and a Vice-President of the Alzheimer’s Society. In 2004, she was made a life Peer as Baroness Murphy, of Aldgate in the City of London, taking interest in mental health, education, healthcare and ageing issues in the House of Lords. She is married and lives in Norfolk.

…arrived in the Lords in 1992 following the death of his mother. His primary interest is Education and he edits the Good Schools Guide. Lord Lucas has a keen interest in libertarian issues, planning, e-government – whatever he can do in the time available.

…was made a life Peer in 1996. A Conservative Member of the Lords, he is a patron of various children’s charities, including Kidscape and Parents for Children. He is also Vice President of the National Small Business Bureau and the British Board of Film Classification. In 1999, Lord Taylor of Warwick was made an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) by Warwick University and was Chancellor of Bournemouth University from 2001-2007.

…has been active member of the House of Lords since 1971 he has been independent since 1982 and was elected in 1999. He is a former Chairman of the National Federation of Housing Associations and other housing organizations. His interests are working for peace in the Middle East, the Balkans, Northern Ireland and he is keen on religious dialogue and human rights. He still farms in Somerset and is married with five children.

…was elevated to the House of Lords in 1998, having previously been chair of the Greater London Labour Party between 1986 to 1991. She is a Yorkshirewoman and lives in Shipley, Bradford. Her particular interests are in policy affecting children, London, media and social enterprise. Since becoming a member of the House of Lords, Baroness Thornton has been Government Whip. In addition, she has been Spokesperson for Health as well as Work and Pensions, Equality and International Development. Outside of the House of Lords, she is a member of the Court of Governors of the London School of Economics