She was created a life peer on 15 May 2000 taking the title Baroness Walmsley, of West Derby in the County of Merseyside,[2] whereupon she took the Liberal Democrat Whip.

Lady Walmsley was formerly president of Women Liberal Democrats and the Campaign for Gender Balance, and has been a member of most of the Party's major committees.

She lists her political interests as child protection, young offenders and prison education, the environment and renewable energy.

Her principal charities are: Botanic Gardens Conservation International (chairman); UNICEF UK (board member); NSPCC (parliamentary ambassador); SKVC Children's Trust, a charity for street children in India (Patron).

In 2005, she married Lord Thomas of Gresford, a fellow Liberal Democrat peer, KC and then Shadow Attorney General.