Formerly Chair of the Judicial Appointment Commission First Civil Service Commissioner
Life Peer (Crossbench), House of Lords (1999-); Member of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee (2023-); Member of the Post Legislative Scrutiny Legislative Select Committee examining (2014-); Families and Children’s Act (2022-2023); Member of Internal Markets and Services EU Select Committee (2019-2021); Member of the pre legislative scrutiny Committee to examine Renewal and Restoration of the Palace of Westminster (2018-19); Chair of the EU Select Committee on Home Affairs (2014-2017); Member of the EU Select Committee (2014-17); Member of EU Select Committee on Home Affairs (2011-2014); Chair of the Privileges Committee (2006-2009); Member of Select Committee on economic regulation (2004-2006); Member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights (2000-2009)
Non-Executive Director for Nationwide (2017-2020), Advisor to Nationwide Building Society on public policy and diversity (2020-); Trustee of Nationwide Foundation; Founder and Deputy Chairman (1994-2000), Chairman (2000-2005), President (2010-) of the National Literacy Trust; Trustee (2007-2017), Chairman (2019-) for Cumberland Lodge;
Formerly: Chancellor of University of De Montfort (2000-2006); Chairman of the Royal Commonwealth Society (2002-2007; President of the Royal Commonwealth Society (2007-2012); Member of the Iraq Inquiry (2009-2016); President of the Community Foundations (2005-2019); President of UK Council for International Student Affairs (2006-2016); Deputy Chairman of the British Council (2013- 2018); Non-Executive Director for Channel 4 (1991-1997; Non-Executive Director for ITV (2002-2008); Non-Executive Director for Unite PLC (2000-2004); Inaugural Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission (2005- 2016); First Civil Service Commissioner (2000-2005); Chairman of the Parole Board of England and Wales (1997-2000); Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (1986-1991); Chief Executive of The Runnymede Trust (1976-1984); Conciliation Officer on the Race Relations Board (1971 – 1976)
An Honorary Governor (2019-), The Ditchley Foundation.