 He was instrumental in the process of managing the succession of leadership from Kennedy to Menzies Campbell.He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1990 New Year Honours and was created a life peer with the title Baron Newby, of Rothwell in the County of West Yorkshire on 25 September 1997.At the beginning of May 2012, Lord Newby was appointed the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the House of Lords, and at the same time was appointed the Deputy Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords and Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard.