People: Peers

The list of new working peers that emerged last weekend included several names linked to higher education.

Anthony Giddens , former director of the London School of Economics, will sit on the Labour benches. Professor Giddens is credited as the intellectual inspiration behind the political "third way" - shorthand for his philosophy of "escaping from the old left-right divide in politics" - and the origins of new Labour.

Sir Kumar Bhattacharyya , professor of manufacturing at Warwick University, who has advised both the British and South African governments on science and technology policy; and historian Ruth Henig, former senior lecturer at Lancaster University and chairwoman of the Association of Police Authorities, will also serve as Labour peers.

Sir Alec Broers , who stepped down as vice-chancellor of Cambridge University after seven years last September and who is president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, will sit as an independent crossbench peer.

Sir Alec will be joined on the crossbenches by Elaine Murphy , chair of the North East London Strategic Health Authority; Lola Young , former head of culture at the Greater London Authority; and Francis D'Souza , former executive director of the International Centre Against Censorship.