Michael Cashman

Michael Cashman is a British politician, actor, and LGBT rights activist who currently serves as a member of the House of Lords. Before entering politics, he had a long career as an actor, most notably appearing as Colin Russell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. A co-founder of the charity Stonewall, Cashman served as a Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands from 1999 to 2014. Throughout his career, he has been a prominent advocate for human rights and equality, particularly regarding LGBT issues within the European Union and globally. Although he was a long-time member of the Labour Party, he currently sits as a non-affiliated peer following the loss of the party whip in 2024.