10 New Liberal Democrat Peers Announced

Ten new Liberal Democrat Peers were announced on 1st August. This is a diverse and representative group of people and includes individuals such as:

• Rosalind (Olly) Grender MBE - former Director of Communications for Shelter and former Director of Communications for the Liberal Democrats
• Zahida Manzoor CBE - Former Legal Services Ombudsman and Deputy Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality
• Brian Paddick - Former Deputy Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police Service
• James Palumbo - Co-founder and chairman of Ministry of Sound Group, the international music and entertainment business

Making the announcement, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said:

The 10 new Liberal Democrat peers announced today will be at the heart of delivering a stronger economy and a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life.

This list shows the Liberal Democrats' strength and depth. We are welcoming new peers from all across the UK and with a great variety of expertise and experience. I'm delighted to welcome such a strong selection of public servants, businessmen and women, and entrepreneurs.

All have excelled in their fields and made a great contribution to politics, charity and to the country. I know that every new peer on this list will make a valuable contribution to British politics, the House of Lords and the Liberal Democrat team in Westminster.

While vested interests prevented us from reforming the House of Lords in this Parliament, the new peers, along with their Liberal Democrat colleagues, remain committed reformers and will continue to make the case for a smaller and more democratic upper chamber.