Baroness Jay replaced Lord Richard in the Cabinet reshuffle in 1998.

As leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Jay is responsible for managing the government's business in the upper chamber.

Baroness Jay also has a responsibility to the House of Lords to advise it on procedural matters and other difficulties as they arise. She has overseen the government's initial reform of the House of Lords, which should result in the all but 92 hereditary peers being removed from the upper chamber in five weeks time.