Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury

Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (born 20 October 1957) is a British Liberal Democrat politician.

Guardian debate, LibDem Brighton Conference 2006, R-L: Bonham-Carter, Simon Hoggart, Julia Goldsworthy MP, Norman Lamb MP

Education

Bonham Carter was educated at St. Paul's Girls' School, an independent school in Brook Green, Hammersmith, west London, and at University College London, part of London University.

Career

She worked in television, before she was created a life peer as Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury, of Yarnbury in the County of Wiltshire, in 2005.

Background

She is from a political family. Her great-grandfather was Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, the former Prime Minister, and her grandparents were Sir Maurice Bonham Carter and Lady Violet Bonham Carter, Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury. Her father Mark Bonham Carter, Baron Bonham-Carter was a Liberal MP and a Liberal Democrat life peer. Her aunt Laura Bonham-Carter, Baroness Grimond of Firth married Joseph "Jo" Grimond, Baron Grimond of Firth, a former Leader of the party. This is the only example of three generations gaining life peerages under the 1958 Life Peerages Act (the three judges Baron Russell of Killowen were created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act of 1876).

She is a cousin of the actress Helena Bonham Carter.

Controversy

She was criticised when it was claimed that she and her partner, Baron Razzall, share a flat but both claim expenses from the House of Lords, though they are not breaking any rules.

Styles and titles

• Miss Jane Bonham-Carter (20 October 1957 to 21 July 1986)
• The Honourable Jane Bonham-Carter (21 July 1986 to 23 June 2004)
• The Right Honourable The Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarbury (23 June 2004 to present)

See also

• Bonham Carter family
• Asquith family