Ian Lang, Baron Lang of Monkton

The Right Honourable The Lord Lang of Monkton PC
President of the Board of Trade
In office 5 July 1995 – 2 May 1997
Prime Minister	John Major
Preceded by	Michael Heseltine
Succeeded by	Margaret Beckett
Secretary of State for Scotland
In office 28 November 1990 – 5 July 1995
Prime Minister	John Major
Preceded by	Malcolm Rifkind
Succeeded by	Michael Forsyth
Member of Parliament for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale Galloway (1979-1983)
In office 3 May 1979 – 1 May 1997
Preceded by	George Thompson
Succeeded by	Alasdair Morgan
Personal details
Born	27 June 1940 (1940-06-27)
Alma mater	Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge

Ian Bruce Lang, Baron Lang of Monkton PC (born 27 June 1940) is a former British Conservative MP for Galloway from 1979 to 1983 and for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale from 1983 to 1997.

Lang was made a life peer as 'Baron Lang of Monkton' of Merrick and the Rhinns of Kells in Dumfries and Galloway in September 1997 and is currently chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

In May 2011, Lang became chairman of the board of directors of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.

Early life

Lang was educated at Rugby and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the Cambridge Footlights.

Career

In the April 1974 general election (Glasgow Pollok constituency), Lang was defeated by James White (Labour). Following this he became MP for Galloway from 1979 to 1983 and for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale from 1983 to 1997 and was a minister for a number of years. He served as a Government whip from 1981 to 1986, Under-Secretary of State for Employment (1986), Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (1986–1987) and Minister of State for Scotland (1987–1990). He joined the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1990 to 1995, and then President of the Board of Trade (and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry) until 1997. He was closely involved in John Major's re-election campaign as leader of the Conservative Party in July 1995.

Lang lost his seat in the 1997 general election, one of seven Cabinet members to do so (the others being Malcolm Rifkind, Michael Portillo, Michael Forsyth, Roger Freeman, William Waldegrave and Tony Newton).

Lang is chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

As chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, Lang insisted that Tony Blair's paid work for UI Energy Corporation, an oil firm with interests in Iraq, just 14 months after leaving office should be made public following a period when the committee agreed to keep it confidential due to "market sensitivity".

Since 1997, Lang has been a member of the Board of Directors of Marsh & McLennan Companies.

References

• Torrance, David, The Scottish Secretaries (Birlinn 2006)

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by George Thompson	Member of Parliament for Galloway 1979–1983	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale 1983–1997	Succeeded by Alasdair Morgan
Political offices
Preceded by Malcolm Rifkind	Secretary of State for Scotland 1990–1995	Succeeded by Michael Forsyth
Preceded by Michael Heseltine	President of the Board of Trade 1995–1997	Succeeded by Margaret Beckett