[citation needed] He later worked for the Fabian Society, and then as a full-time employee of the Labour Party, becoming its international secretary.

[4] The Letters Patent were issued on 20 December and he took the title Baron McNally, of Blackpool in the County of Lancashire.

[5] After being elected unopposed to succeed Baroness Williams of Crosby, he took office as Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords at the beginning of the 2004/05 session of Parliament.

[citation needed] McNally criticised Kennedy, suggesting that his style and content were lacklustre.

In May 2010, following the formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government, Lord McNally was appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, under Kenneth Clarke.