Lib Dems amongst the top ten peers peers

Ed Lowther at the BBC has identified the 'top ten peers' peers of 2013', defined as backbenchers in the House of Lords who were name-checked most frequently by their colleagues in the chamber. As he says: "This approach may not measure popularity or power, but it gives an impression of impact. "

And are any of those lordly sociometric stars Lib Dem, by any chance? Of course they are.

At number 4 - drumroll, please - is ….

… Tony Greaves. Sometimes described as the Lib Dems' 'oldest angry young man' he was instrumental in the recovery of the party from its lowest points in the 1970s. A radical, no-nonsense politician, he frequently joins in the discussions in the comments on Lib Dem Voice, as well as contributing posts from time to time.

He is closely followed by Anthony Lester, who is known to many of us as an erudite and humane lawyer and advocate for human rights, racial equality and, more recently, equal marriage.

The top female peer, and 8th overall, is the wonderful Sally Hamwee, who has served her time as a councillor in Richmond upon Thames, then as member (and chair) of the London Assembly. She is Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Home Affairs, Justice and Equalities, and speaks with authority on a range of issues including housing, equalities, planning and media.

We should also mention David Alton, at number 10, who sits today as a crossbencher, but was a Liberal, and then Liberal Democrat, MP for 18 years in Liverpool.

Three (and a half) out of ten is pretty good, and demonstrates that our peers punch substantially above their weight on the red benches.

* Mary Reid is the Tuesday Editor on Lib Dem Voice.