Members of Parliament for Devizes - The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald

Member of Parliament for Devizes

Party

Committees

Lupus Group, Childcare Group, Fairs And Showgrounds Group, Save The Pub Group, Folk Arts Group, Ghana Group, British-swiss Parliamentary Group

Biography

MP Since - 1979 Majority - 13,194 Born - 07/07/1945, Married, 2 daughters. Education - Ampleforth College, Christ Church College Oxford and Edinburgh University. Previous Occupation - Called to Scottish Bar in 1970. Practised until 1979. Board Member Scottish Homes (1988-90), Chairman of Northern Corporate Communications Ltd (1989-91), Daily Telegraph Columnist (1989-92). Privy Counsellor (1996).

Personal Overview - Scottish born and a landowner, having a legal background, with experience in Government up to Minister of State rank. In opposition, he was promoted to the post of Constitutional Affairs spokesman with responsibility for both Scotland and Wales, being heavily involved in both Devolution Referendum campaigns. A supporter of Hague in the 1997 leadership contest he became Party Chairman in October 1998. Known for his guitar-playing entertainment of Conservative conferences he is a popular Party figure seen as a true servant of the Conservative interest. After initially standing himself for the party leadership, was rewarded for backing Iain Duncan Smith, becoming the Deputy Party Leader and holding the Foreign Affairs policy portfolio, held position under the Michael Howard leadership and gained the International Affairs portfolio. He remained a Shadow Cabinet member until 2005 when he was removed in David Cameron's initial reshuffle. Succeeded to his father's titles in October 2004 (13th Marquess of Lothian; 14th Earl of Lothian; Earl of Ancram), which no longer bars him from continuing in the House of Commons. Was notable for being one of only two Conservative MPs who defied the party whip in March 2007 and voted against the immediate renewal of Trident, supporting the rebel amendment. Announced in August 2009 that he would be standing down for 'health reasons' at the next General Election.

Political History - MP Berwick & East Lothian (Feb-Oct 1974). MP Edinburgh South (1979-87), Member of the Energy Select Committee (1979-83). Chairman of Scottish Conservative Party (1980-83), Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Scottish Office (1983-87), MP Devizes (1992-). Member of Public Accounts Select Committee (1992-93). Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1993), Minister of State (Northern Ireland) (1994-97). Opposition Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs (Shadow Cabinet rank) (1997-98). Chairman of the Conservative Back Bench Constitutional Affairs Select Committee (1997-98). Chairman of the Conservative Defence/Foreign Affairs Committee (2001-05), Conservative Party International Affairs Co-ordinator (2003-05). Conservative Party Chairman (1998-2001). Deputy Conservative Party Leader, Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs (2001-05), Member of Conservative Policy Board (2001-05), Shadow Secretary of State for International Affairs (2003-05). Deputy Party Leader and Shadow Secretary of State for Defence (2005).

Characteristics - He is the Earl of Ancram, and Marquess of Lothian. A Scottish Tory forced south by electoral necessity, with the removal of hereditary peers from the Upper House he no longer faces the difficulty of becoming ineligible for Commons membership. His wife is the daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. Privy Counsellor (1996). Honorary President of the Environmental Medicine Foundation.

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