In 2006, Summerskill was appointed a Commissioner on the Britain's new Equality and Human Rights Commission. He had for three years been a member of a Steering Group advising the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on establishing the Commission, which has statutory powers for the first time to promote equality for lesbian and gay people. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours. He was appointed to the committee of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2009. In July 2009 Summerskill resigned as an EHRC commissioner citing differences over leadership with its chair Trevor Phillips. Five other commissioners resigned at the same time.