Lord Bhatia, OBE, life baron, who has died aged 91, was an Ismaili Muslim businessman born in East Africa who was ennobled in recognition of his charitable work since arriving in Britain in 1972. Appointed one of Tony Blair’s “people’s peers” in 2001, Amir Bhatia derived much of his influence from chairing the UK arm of Industrial Promotion Services, the Geneva-based conglomerate managing the Aga Khan’s global business empire.

Appointed OBE in 1997, and created a life peer in 2001 as Baron Bhatia of Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. In October 2010, Lord Bhatia was suspended from the House of Lords for eight months due to the United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal.] After that, he sat in the Lords as a non-affiliated member. In December 2013, BBC Newsnight reported that Lord Bhatia had been accused by the Ethnic Minority Foundation of misappropriating £600,000 from the charity. Lord Bhatia was suing the charity for unfair dismissal, and his lawyers said that the allegations were confusing the historical position with the present dispute.

Amirali Alibhai Bhatia was born 18 March, 1932.