[2] Collins has been Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa,[3] a Lord-in-waiting and Government spokesperson for Equalities since 2024.

[citation needed] He helped steer the TGWU into a merger with Amicus, creating Unite, one of the largest trade unions in the country.

[6] On 20 January 2011, Collins was created a life peer as Baron Collins of Highbury, of Highbury in the London Borough of Islington,[7] and was introduced in the House of Lords on 24 January 2011,[8] where he sits on the Labour benches.

[10] On 10 July 2013 Collins was asked to review and make recommendations for internal Labour Party reform.

[14] He received a grant of arms, crest, supporters and badge from Garter Woodcock on 12 June 2015.