Michael Cashman, the co-founder of Stonewall, and Natalie Evans, director of the New Schools Network, are among leading charity figures to be appointed life peers by the Queen.

New Labour peer Cashman is a former Eastenders actor and a former member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands, and was a founding member of gay rights group Stonewall in 1989.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "Throughout his life Michael Cashman has been a passionate defender of human rights. As a founder of Stonewall and a member of the European Parliament he has fought tirelessly for LGBT people.”

Cashman officially retired from his post as MEP in May. He was head of the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights and was the first member of the European Parliament to join the Out4Marriage campaign.

New Conservative peer Evans is director of the New Schools Network, an independent educational charity providing advice and support for groups setting up free schools. Her work has helped to establish free schools across Britain.

The announcement on Friday of the latest round of peers includes twelve Conservative peers, six Liberal Democrats, three Labour and one Democratic Unionist Party peer.