He was Director of Paralympic Integration for the London Olympics and it was announced that he would be elevated to the House of Lords in August 2013, as a Conservative Party peer.

[3] Holmes was already a good swimmer with the goal of representing his country, when he became blind as a teenager due to Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, a genetic eye disorder.

From 2005 to 2013 he was a member of the Board of UK Sport, responsible for the funding for the Olympic and Paralympic athletes set to compete at the London 2012 Games.

Successes included the Ross V Ryan Air Court of Appeal Decision,[14] Roads V Central Trains[15] and Archibald V Fife Council.

[28][29] Holmes conducted an independent review for the government exploring how to open up public appointments to disabled people.

[30] Two years later, Holmes published a Progress Report calling on the government to implement commitments made in the Public Appointments Diversity Action Plan.

[33] Holmes proposed other amendments, not accepted by the government, including amendment 35 which would require the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee to monitor "exclusion from financial services in the United Kingdom" as well as playing a role in the provision of basic banking services.

[36] Holmes speaks regularly at corporate, public sector, community and charity events across the UK and worldwide.

[40] The SAF Paul Zetter Award was presented to Holmes in 1996, and in 1997 he was Sports Personality of the year Variety Club of GB.

[42] He made his maiden speech on 28 November 2013 in a debate on the Economy: Broadcast Media[43] and is an active member of the Lords with a policy focus on digital technology for the public good, social mobility, employment, education, skills, culture, media and sport.

[51][52] Another proposed amendment (Amendment 253 Page 32, line 36, at end insert "( ) the administration of maintaining marketing standards of imported wine products, including the digitisation of VI-1 forms) encouraged the government to consider the digitisation of wine import forms.

[57] Since joining the Committee he has co-authored reports on the role of batteries and fuel cells in achieving Net Zero, nature-based solutions for climate change, delivering a UK science and technology strategy and the effects of artificial light and noise on human health.

[58] Holmes sponsored Rosie Cooper MP's Private Members Bill, which would give British Sign Language legal recognition in England, Wales and Scotland, in the House of Lords.

Holmes tabled several amendments to the Elections Bill proposing research into the use of blockchain technology for electronic voting and to improve the security of the electoral register[60] He also proposed amendments with the purpose of ensuring the "accessibility, inclusivity, independence and secrecy of every voters vote cast.