Two professors appointed to Lords

The House of Lords appointments commission has announced the creation of two non-political peers.

Professor Peter Hennessy, an expert in contemporary British history, and Professor Sheila Hollins, a psychiatrist whose work has focused on the mental and physical health of people with learning disabilities, will take up their seats at a later date.

Their titles have not yet been decided and they will sit as cross-benchers.

The commission selects new independent members of the House of Lords and vets party-political nominations put forward by the parties.

Independent peers are selected on merit and on their commitment to the work of the House of Lords.

The commission aims to "add to the breadth of expertise and experience that already exists within the House and to ensure that the House of Lords represents the diversity of the people of the UK".

Since it was established in 2000, the commission has now recommended a total of 57 non-party-political peerages to the prime minister, drawn from well over 4,000 nominations.

Peter Hennessy is Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary, University of London, and a Fellow of the British Academy.

He has written a number of books including Never Again: Britain 1945-51, The Secret State, The Hidden Wiring: Unearthing The British Constitution, Cabinet and Whitehall.

Sheila Hollins is Professor in Psychiatry of Disability at St. George's, University of London.

Her research has focussed on clinical and social aspects of the mental and physical health of people with learning disabilities, with a particular focus on bereavement, palliative care and sexual abuse.

Since 2008 she has served as the Chair of the WHO Steering Group to develop a declaration and action plan on the health of children and young people with intellectual disabilities.

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