Childline chief among new people`s peers

Valerie Howarth, chief executive of Childline, has been
recommended for a life peerage.

She was among 15 “people’s peers” proposed by the House of
Lords appointments commission. If approved by the prime minister
and the Queen, the new peers will join the Lords as non-party
political life peers.

The list also includes: Sir Stewart Sutherland, chairperson of
the Royal Commission on Long Term Care for the Elderly; Victor
Adebowale, chief executive of homelessness charity Centrepoint;
Richard Best, director of social policy charity Joseph Rowntree
Foundation; and Sir Herman Ouseley, former chief executive of the
Commission for Racial Equality.

Esther Rantzen, ChildLine chairperson, said: “I am absolutely
delighted that Valerie is one of the very first people’s
peers. We have been extremely lucky at ChildLine to be able to draw
on her talent, experience and wisdom for 14 years.

“All her working life she has represented vulnerable people,
particularly disadvantaged children,” she said. Dennis Stevenson,
chairperson of the appointments commission, said: “We are confident
that the 15 people will bring considerable experience and authority
to the House, adding to the range of expertise available in a
number of areas, including science, social policy, housing,
employment, education, business and international affairs.”