Commenting on the appointment of 15 new Liberal Democrat peers, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “The 15 new Liberal Democrat peers announced today will be at the heart of driving through the Government’s programme of constitutional reform.

“The Coalition Agreement commits us to implementing a mainly or wholly elected second chamber by a proportional representation system, and I know the new Liberal Democrat peers are looking forward to implementing that commitment.

“This list shows the Liberal Democrats’ strength and depth. We are welcoming new peers with experience in administration in Scotland, Wales and local government, high profile parliamentary candidates and MPs, senior policy makers and thinkers, leading party activists and successful businessmen and entrepreneurs.

“I know that every new peer on this list will make a valuable contribution to the House of Lords and the Liberal Democrat team in Westminster.”

Notes:

The full list of new Liberal Democrats peers is:

Sal Brinton – Former parliamentary candidate and senior party activist

Dee Doocey AM, OBE – Chair of the Greater London Assembly

Cllr Qurban Hussain – Former Deputy Leader of Luton Council and former parliamentary candidate

Judith Jolly – Chair of Devon & Cornwall Liberal Democrats, senior Liberal Democrat policy maker

Susan Kramer – Former MP for Richmond Park and former Liberal Democrat candidate for London Mayor

Raj Loomba – Businessman and philanthropist

Jonathan Marks QC – Senior barrister, former councillor and parliamentary candidate

Cllr Monroe Palmer – Barnet Councillor and former parliamentary candidate, Chairman of Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel

Jenny Randerson AM – Former Minister of Culure, Sport and the Welsh language and acting Deputy First Minister in the Welsh Assembly

John Sharkey – Chair of the 2010 Liberal Democrat General Election campaign, former MD of Saatchi & Saatchi

Nicol Stephen MSP – Former Deputy First Minister of Scotland, former MP for Kincardine and Deeside

Ben Stoneham – Director of Operations at Liberal Democrat HQ, senior party activist

Cllr Mike Storey – Former leader of Liverpool City Council

Paul Strasburger – Businessman and philanthropist

Claire Tyler – Chief Executive of Relate and former senior civil servant