Editing David Leakey (section)

==Later life==
Leakey was appointed as [[Black Rod|Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod]] in the [[House of Lords]] from February 2011<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/january/black-rod-starts/ |title=New Black Rod starts |website=Parliament |date=2 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130000327/https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/january/black-rod-starts/ |archive-date=30 January 2019}}</ref> to December 2017. In early 2020 Leakey argued strongly against former [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] [[John Bercow]] being appointed to the [[House of Lords]], accusing him of bullying and explosive behaviour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Procter |first1=Kate |title=Giving Bercow Peerage would be scandal, says former Black Rod |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/05/john-bercow-peerage-scandal-black-rod-david-leakey |accessdate=8 March 2020 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=11 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311203912/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/05/john-bercow-peerage-scandal-black-rod-david-leakey |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Shadow Home Secretary]] and [[Member of Parliament]] [[Diane Abbott]] has defended Bercow, stating that as a military man, Leakey was "unlikely to have been bullied by Bercow".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Giordano |first1=Chiara |title=Diane Abbott criticised after suggesting former military commander could not have been Bercow bullying victim |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/diane-abbott-bullying-john-bercow-david-leakey-military-twitter-a9318431.html |accessdate=8 March 2020 |work=The Independent |issue=5 Feb 2020 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128060059/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/diane-abbott-bullying-john-bercow-david-leakey-military-twitter-a9318431.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since retiring as Black Rod, Leakey has undertaken public speaking engagements including media appearances on radio and TV. He mentors senior executives and holds appointments in a number of business enterprises: Chief Strategy Officer of Scopeworker (a business management software service), Advisory Member of 2M Holdings Board (Chemicals and Gas Industry), a number of consultancy roles, and ambassador for the Hollie Gazzard Trust.