House of Lords: Backgrounds in Public Life

This House of Lords Library briefing presents lists of current Members of the House who have held selected offices and positions in public life. The membership of the House includes:

• Four former First Secretaries of State
• Two former deputy Prime Ministers
• Three former Chancellors of the Exchequer
• Four former Home Secretaries
• Three former Foreign Secretaries
• Nine former UK political party leaders
• Thirty-nine former or current council leaders
• Five former Cabinet Secretaries
• Six former Heads of the Home Civil Service
• Three former Permanent Secretaries to the Treasury
• Four former Heads of the Diplomatic Service
• Two former Directors-General of the Security Service (MI5)
• Six former Chiefs of the Defence Staff
• Eleven former or current Justices of the Supreme Court
• Fifteen former or current university vice-chancellors
• Eight former or current ambassadors
• Eight former European Commissioners
• Two former Secretaries-General of NATO

This briefing updates the House of Lords Library briefing House of Lords: Public Offices and Positions Held by Members (29 March 2016), which included lists of public offices and positions held by Members of the House of Lords as at March 2016. Additions to this update include lists of current Members who serve, or have served, as council leaders, university vice-chancellors, Olympic/Paralympic athletes or ambassadors.