Jump to content

Alan Beith: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Mabelina (talk | contribs)
10,888 edits
int.
Line 1: Line 1:
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
{{Infobox Officeholder
Line 5: Line 4:
|name = Sir Alan Beith
|name = Sir Alan Beith
|image = Alan Beith MP Liverpool.jpg
|image = Alan Beith MP Liverpool.jpg
|office = [[Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team|Liberal Democrat Leader of the House of Commons]]
|office = [[Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team|Lib Dem Leader of the House of Commons]]
|leader = [[Charles Kennedy]]
|leader = [[Charles Kennedy]]
|term_start = 29 August 1999
|term_start = 29 August 1999
Line 16: Line 15:
|term_end1 = 12 February 2003
|term_end1 = 12 February 2003
|predecessor1 = [[Russell Johnston]]
|predecessor1 = [[Russell Johnston]]
|successor1 = [[Menzies Campbell|Ming Campbell]]
|successor1 = [[Menzies Campbell]]
|office2 = [[Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team|Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson]]
|office2 = [[Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team|Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson]]
|leader2 = [[Charles Kennedy]]
|leader2 = [[Charles Kennedy]]
Line 28: Line 27:
|term_end3 = 16 July 1988
|term_end3 = 16 July 1988
|predecessor3 = [[John Pardoe]] {{small|(1979)}}
|predecessor3 = [[John Pardoe]] {{small|(1979)}}
|successor3 = [[Russell Johnston]] {{small|([[Liberal Democrats]])}}
|successor3 = [[Russell Johnston]] {{small|([[Liberal Democrats|Lib Dems]])}}
|office4 = [[Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats|Liberal Chief Whip]] of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]
|office4 = [[Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats|Liberal Chief Whip]] in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|Commons]]
|leader4 = [[David Steel]]
|leader4 = [[David Steel]]
|term_start4 = 1977
|term_start4 = 1977
Line 38: Line 37:
|term_start5 = 8 November 1973
|term_start5 = 8 November 1973
|term_end5 = 30 March 2015
|term_end5 = 30 March 2015
|predecessor5 = [[Antony Lambton]]
|predecessor5 = [[Antony Lambton|Viscount Lambton]]
|successor5 = [[Anne-Marie Trevelyan]]
|successor5 = [[Anne-Marie Trevelyan]]
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|4|20|df=y}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|4|20|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Poynton]], [[Cheshire]], [[England]]
|birth_place = [[Poynton]], [[Cheshire]], [[UK]]
|death_date =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|death_place =
|party = [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] {{small|(Before 1988)}}<br>[[Liberal Democrats]] {{small|(1988–present)}}
|party = [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] {{small|(Before 1988)}}<br>[[Liberal Democrats]] {{small|(1988–present)}}
|spouse = Barbara Ward {{small|(1965–1998)}}<br>[[Diana Maddock, Baroness Maddock|Diana Maddock]] {{small|(2001–present)}}
|spouse = Barbara Ward {{small|(1965–1998)}}<br>[[Diana Maddock, Baroness Maddock|Diana, Baroness Maddock]] {{small|(2001–present)}}
|children = 1 daughter<br>1 son
|children = 1 daughter<br>1 son
|alma_mater = [[Balliol College, Oxford]]<br>[[Nuffield College, Oxford]]
|alma_mater = [[Balliol College, Oxford]]<br>[[Nuffield College, Oxford]]
Line 52: Line 51:
}}
}}


'''Sir Alan James Beith''' (born 20 April 1943) is a British [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] [[politician]] who was the [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)|Berwick-upon-Tweed]] constituency from 1973 until 2015. Until May 2015 he was the longest-serving Liberal Democrat in Parliament, and the last Liberal Democrat to have experience of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] in the 1970s. He was nominated for a [[Life peer|life peerage]] in August 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dissolution Peerages 2015|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dissolution-peerages-2015|website=Gov.uk|accessdate=27 August 2015}}</ref>
[[Sir]] '''Alan James Beith''' (born 20 April 1943) is a British [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] [[politician]] who was [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)|Berwick-upon-Tweed]] [[constituency]] from 1973 until 2015.
By May 2015 he was the longest-serving Liberal Democrat in Parliament, and the last remaining Liberal Democrat to have experience of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] during the 1970s.
Sir Alan was elevated as a [[Life Peer]] in the [[2015 Dissolution Honours|2015 Dissolution Honours List]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Dissolution Peerages 2015|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dissolution-peerages-2015|website=Gov.uk|accessdate=27 August 2015}}</ref> and after consultation with [[Garter King of Arms]] will take his [[title]] and a [[seat]] in the [[House of Lords]] in the Autumn of 2015


==Early life==
==Early life==
[[File:Oxford - Balliol College - geograph.org.uk - 1329613.jpg|thumb|left|Balliol College, Oxford]]
[[File:Oxford - Balliol College - geograph.org.uk - 1329613.jpg|thumb|left|Balliol College, Oxford]]
Alan Beith was born in 1943 in [[Poynton]], in [[Cheshire]]. He was educated at [[The King's School, Macclesfield]], [[Balliol College, Oxford]], where he read [[Philosophy, Politics and Economics]] graduating in 1964, and [[Nuffield College, Oxford|Nuffield College]] where he obtained a [[Degrees of the University of Oxford|Bachelor of Letters (BLitt) degree]].
Alan Beith was born in 1943 at [[Poynton]] in [[Cheshire]]. He was educated at [[The King's School, Macclesfield]] before going up to [[Balliol College, Oxford]], where he read [[Philosophy, Politics and Economics]] graduating as [[Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin)|MA]] in 1964. He then pursued postgrad studies at [[Nuffield College, Oxford|Nuffield College]] receiving a [[Degrees of the University of Oxford|Bachelor of Letters (BLitt) degree]].


In 1966 he began his career as a politics lecturer at the [[Newcastle University|University of Newcastle upon Tyne]]. In 1969 he was elected a councillor on the [[Hexham]] District Council. In 1970 he was elected to the [[Corbridge]] Town Council. He contested the [[United Kingdom general election, 1970|1970 general election]] at Berwick-upon-Tweed but was defeated heavily by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP [[Antony Lambton]].
In 1966 he began his career as a [[University lecturer|politics lecturer]] at the [[Newcastle University|University of Newcastle]]. In 1969 he was elected as Councillor on [[Hexham]] [[District Council]]. In 1970 he was elected to [[Corbridge]] [[Town Council]]. He contested the [[United Kingdom general election, 1970|1970 general election]] for Berwick-upon-Tweed but was defeated heavily by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[MP]] [[Antony Lambton]].


==Member of Parliament==
==Member of Parliament==
In 1973 Alan Beith was elected to the North [[Tynedale]] District Council, and later in the year [[Antony Lambton]] resigned as the MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed in great scandal. At the by-election later that year, Beith secured a victory and was elected as the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed on 8 November 1973 by just 57 votes.
In 1973 Alan Beith was elected to the [[Tynedale|North Tynedale]] [[District Council]], and later in the year [[Antony Lambton|Viscount Lambton]] resigned as MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed following a scandal. At the resultant [[by-election]] later that year, Beith secured a victory and was elected as Berwick-upon-Tweed's [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] [[Member of Parliament]] on 8 November 1973 by just 57 votes.


The next year was to prove a major campaigning act for the now Alan Beith MP, just three months after his by-election victory he had to face his electors again at the [[United Kingdom general election, February 1974|February 1974 general election]], his majority increased to 443. Less than a year after he was elected for the first time, Beith had to face his constituents for a third time at the [[United Kingdom general election, October 1974|October 1974 general election]] and his majority reduced back to double figures at just 73.
The next year was to prove a major campaigning act for the now Alan Beith MP, just three months after his by-election victory he had to canvass his [[constituent]]s again at the [[United Kingdom general election, February 1974|February 1974 general election]], his majority increased to 443. Less than a year after he was elected for the first time, Beith contested the constituency for a third time at the [[United Kingdom general election, October 1974|October 1974 general election]] when his majority reduced back to double figures at just 73.


===Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party===
===Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party===
He became a Member of the [[BBC]] Advisory Council in 1974 and held the position until 1984. On the election of [[David Steel]] as the Leader of the Liberal Party in 1976, Alan Beith became the Liberal [[Whip (politics)|Chief Whip]] in the [[United Kingdom House of Commons|Commons]]. After the [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983 general election]] he also became the Liberal spokesman for [[Department of Constitutional Affairs|Constitutional Affairs]]. He was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in 1985, in both cases alongside his duties as Chief Whip.
Beith was appointed a Member of the [[BBC]] Advisory Council in 1974 a position he held until 1984. On the election of [[David Steel]] as the Leader of the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] in 1976, Alan Beith became [[Liberal [[Whip (politics)|Party Chief Whip]] in the [[United Kingdom House of Commons|Commons]]. After the [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983 general election]] he was appointed Liberal Spokesman for [[Department of Constitutional Affairs|Constitutional Affairs]]. He was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in 1985, in both cases alongside his duties as Chief Whip.


After the [[United Kingdom general election, 1987]], Beith concentrated his efforts as the spokesman on [[HM Treasury|Treasury Affairs]] and stood down as the Chief Whip after eleven years in post. In 1988 the Liberal Party joined with the [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]] finally to produce the new party of (initially) the Social and Liberal Democrats.
After the [[United Kingdom general election, 1987]], Beith concentrated his efforts as Liberal Spokesman on [[HM Treasury|Treasury Affairs]] and stood down as the Chief Whip after eleven years in post. In 1988 the Liberal Party joined with the [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]] creating the new party, of (initially) Social and Liberal Democrats.


===Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats===
===Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats===
Beith stood against [[Paddy Ashdown]] in the first [[Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election, 1988|leadership election in 1988]], an election that Ashdown won by a large margin. Beith stayed on as [[Deputy Leader]] of the Liberal Democrats from after the [[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992 general election]] under Ashdown until 2003, and became a [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Member of the Privy Council]] in 1992. In 1994, he became the Liberal Democrat Shadow [[Home Office|Home Secretary]], a job which he carried on under [[Charles Kennedy]]. After the [[United Kingdom general election, 2001|2001 general election]] he briefly became the spokesman on the [[Lord Chancellor]]'s Department, but left the front bench in 2002, though remaining Deputy Leader until the following year.
Beith stood against [[Paddy Ashdown]] in the first [[Social and Liberal Democrats leadership election, 1988|leadership election in 1988]], an election that Ashdown won by a large margin. Beith stayed on as [[Deputy Leader]] of the [[Liberal Democrats]] following the [[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992 general election]] under Ashdown until 2003, and was sworn of the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]] in 1992. In 1994, he became the Liberal Democrat Shadow [[Home Office|Home Secretary]], in which postb he continued under [[Charles Kennedy]]. After the [[United Kingdom general election, 2001|2001 general election]] he briefly became Lib Dem Spokesman for the [[Lord Chancellor's Department]], but left the Lib Dem [[Frontbench]] in 2002, though remaining its Deputy Leader until the following year.


Since leaving the front bench he has chaired the Lord Chancellor's Department, [[Constitutional Affairs Committee|Constitutional Affairs]], and [[Justice Committee]]s. Following the resignation of [[Sir Menzies Campbell]] as Leader of The Liberal Democrats on 15 October 2007, Beith was spoken of as a possible compromise candidate for the leadership. However, in a statement on his personal website, he announced his decision not to stand for election for the leadership.
After standing down from the [[Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team|Lib Dem Frontbench]] he [[Chairman|chaired]] the [[House of Commons|Commons[[ [[Constitutional Affairs Committee|Constitutional Affairs]], and [[Justice Committee]]s. Following the resignation of [[Sir Menzies Campbell]] as Leader of the Liberal Democrats on 15 October 2007, Beith was spoken of as a possible compromise candidate for the leadership. However, in a statement on his personal website, he announced his decision not to stand for election for his party's leadership.


Beith was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[Birthday Honours 2008|2008 Birthday Honours]]. In the May 2010 election he was again elected for Berwick, albeit with a substantial swing to the Conservatives.
Beith was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[Birthday Honours 2008|2008 Birthday Honours]]. At the [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|May 2010 general election]] he was returned as MP for Berwick, albeit his majority being reduced by a substantial swing to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]].


Sir Alan Beith announced on 7 August 2013 that he will be standing down from Parliament at the next election, after serving Berwick upon Tweed as their MP for 42 years.<ref>[http://www.libdemvoice.org/alan-beith-to-step-down-in-2015-35656.html Alan Beith to step down in 2015]. ''Liberal Democrat Voice'' (07 August 2013). Retrieved 31 January 2014.</ref>
Sir Alan announced on 7 August 2013 that he would be standing down from [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] at the next election, having represented Berwick-upon-Tweed as MP for 42 years.<ref>[http://www.libdemvoice.org/alan-beith-to-step-down-in-2015-35656.html Alan Beith to step down in 2015]. ''Liberal Democrat Voice'' (07 August 2013). Retrieved 31 January 2014.</ref>


====Expenses scandal====
====Expenses scandal====
On 22 May 2009, Beith was reported in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' to have claimed £117,000 in second home allowances while his wife, Baroness Maddock, claimed £60,000 Lords expenses for staying at the same address.<ref>{{cite news | last = Winnett | first = Robert |author2= Watt, Holly|author3= Prince, Rosa | title = MPs' expenses: cover-up of Ian Gibson and his daughter’s cut-price flat deal | publisher = [[Daily Telegraph]] | date = 22 May 2009 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5364319/MPs-expenses-cover-up-of-Ian-Gibson-and-his-daughters-cut-price-flat-deal.html | accessdate = 22 May 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090525051854/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5364319/MPs-expenses-cover-up-of-Ian-Gibson-and-his-daughters-cut-price-flat-deal.html| archivedate= 25 May 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
On 22 May 2009, Sir Alan Beith was reported by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' to have claimed £117,000 in [[second home]] allowances while his wife, [[Baroness Maddock]], claimed £60,000 Lords expenses for staying at the same address.<ref>{{cite news | last = Winnett | first = Robert |author2= Watt, Holly|author3= Prince, Rosa | title = MPs' expenses: cover-up of Ian Gibson and his daughter’s cut-price flat deal | publisher = [[Daily Telegraph]] | date = 22 May 2009 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5364319/MPs-expenses-cover-up-of-Ian-Gibson-and-his-daughters-cut-price-flat-deal.html | accessdate = 22 May 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090525051854/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5364319/MPs-expenses-cover-up-of-Ian-Gibson-and-his-daughters-cut-price-flat-deal.html| archivedate= 25 May 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>


In response, Beith wrote to the Telegraph journalist: "It would be quite wrong for the taxpayer to pay twice for the same costs, so we have shared the costs, either by sharing the cost of rent, or by my wife using her allowance towards costs incurred (she normally claims only half of the Lords' overnight allowance)."<ref>{{cite web | last = Beith | first = Alan | title = Beith publishes full Telegraph questions and answers | date = 22 May 2009 | url = http://www.alanbeith.org.uk/news/000370/beith_publishes_full_telegraph_questions_and_answers.html | accessdate = 16 June 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090525085024/http://www.alanbeith.org.uk/news/000370/beith_publishes_full_telegraph_questions_and_answers.html| archivedate= 25 May 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
In response, Beith wrote to the Telegraph journalist: "It would be quite wrong for the taxpayer to pay twice for the same costs, so we have shared the costs, either by sharing the cost of rent, or by my wife using her allowance towards costs incurred (she normally claims only half of the Lords' overnight allowance)."<ref>{{cite web | last = Beith | first = Alan | title = Beith publishes full Telegraph questions and answers | date = 22 May 2009 | url = http://www.alanbeith.org.uk/news/000370/beith_publishes_full_telegraph_questions_and_answers.html | accessdate = 16 June 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090525085024/http://www.alanbeith.org.uk/news/000370/beith_publishes_full_telegraph_questions_and_answers.html| archivedate= 25 May 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
Line 98: Line 101:
Beith was married in 1965 to Barbara Ward and they had a son and a daughter. His first wife died in 1998 and he married [[Diana Maddock, Baroness Maddock]], the MP for [[Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)|Christchurch]] (1993–97) in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Alan Beith|url=http://berwicklibdems.org.uk/en/page/alan-beith|website=http://berwicklibdems.org.uk/en/page/alan-beith|accessdate=19 March 2015}}</ref> He and his wife are one of the few married couples to both hold titles in their own right.
Beith was married in 1965 to Barbara Ward and they had a son and a daughter. His first wife died in 1998 and he married [[Diana Maddock, Baroness Maddock]], the MP for [[Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)|Christchurch]] (1993–97) in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Alan Beith|url=http://berwicklibdems.org.uk/en/page/alan-beith|website=http://berwicklibdems.org.uk/en/page/alan-beith|accessdate=19 March 2015}}</ref> He and his wife are one of the few married couples to both hold titles in their own right.


Sir Alan and Baroness Maddock live in Berwick upon Tweed.
Sir Alan and [[Diana Maddock, Baroness Maddock|Baroness Maddock]] live in Berwick upon Tweed.


Sir Alan is President of the [[Liberal Democrat Christian Forum]] and President of the [[Historic Chapels Trust]], a charity he helped to found and of which was Chair of Trustees 2001-2014. Beith is President of [[Northumberland Hospital Radio]]. He is President of the [[National Liberal Club]]
Sir Alan is President of the [[Liberal Democrat Christian Forum]] and President of the [[Historic Chapels Trust]], a charity he helped to found and of which was Chair of Trustees 2001-2014. Beith is President of [[Northumberland Hospital Radio]]. He is President of the [[National Liberal Club]].


He was awarded an honorary degree from [[Earlham College]] in [[Richmond, Indiana]] in 2013.
He was awarded an honorary degree from [[Earlham College]] in [[Richmond, Indiana]] in 2013.

Revision as of 14:50, 31 August 2015

The Right Honourable
Sir Alan Beith
Lib Dem Leader of the House of Commons
In office
29 August 1999 – 15 May 2003
LeaderCharles Kennedy
Preceded byCharles Kennedy
Succeeded byPaul Tyler
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats
In office
11 April 1992 – 12 February 2003
LeaderPaddy Ashdown
Charles Kennedy
Preceded byRussell Johnston
Succeeded byMenzies Campbell
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson
In office
12 July 1994 – 29 August 1999
LeaderCharles Kennedy
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded bySimon Hughes
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
In office
1985 – 16 July 1988
LeaderDavid Steel
Preceded byJohn Pardoe (1979)
Succeeded byRussell Johnston (Lib Dems)
Liberal Chief Whip in the Commons
In office
1977–1985
LeaderDavid Steel
Preceded byCyril Smith
Succeeded byDavid Alton
Member of Parliament
for Berwick-upon-Tweed
In office
8 November 1973 – 30 March 2015
Preceded byViscount Lambton
Succeeded byAnne-Marie Trevelyan
Personal details
Born (1943-04-20) 20 April 1943 (age 81)
Poynton, Cheshire, UK
Political partyLiberal (Before 1988)
Liberal Democrats (1988–present)
Spouse(s)Barbara Ward (1965–1998)
Diana, Baroness Maddock (2001–present)
Children1 daughter
1 son
Alma materBalliol College, Oxford
Nuffield College, Oxford
WebsiteOfficial website

Sir Alan James Beith (born 20 April 1943) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency from 1973 until 2015.

By May 2015 he was the longest-serving Liberal Democrat in Parliament, and the last remaining Liberal Democrat to have experience of the House of Commons during the 1970s.

Sir Alan was elevated as a Life Peer in the 2015 Dissolution Honours List,[1] and after consultation with Garter King of Arms will take his title and a seat in the House of Lords in the Autumn of 2015

Early life

Balliol College, Oxford

Alan Beith was born in 1943 at Poynton in Cheshire. He was educated at The King's School, Macclesfield before going up to Balliol College, Oxford, where he read Philosophy, Politics and Economics graduating as MA in 1964. He then pursued postgrad studies at Nuffield College receiving a Bachelor of Letters (BLitt) degree.

In 1966 he began his career as a politics lecturer at the University of Newcastle. In 1969 he was elected as Councillor on Hexham District Council. In 1970 he was elected to Corbridge Town Council. He contested the 1970 general election for Berwick-upon-Tweed but was defeated heavily by the Conservative MP Antony Lambton.

Member of Parliament

In 1973 Alan Beith was elected to the North Tynedale District Council, and later in the year Viscount Lambton resigned as MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed following a scandal. At the resultant by-election later that year, Beith secured a victory and was elected as Berwick-upon-Tweed's Liberal Member of Parliament on 8 November 1973 by just 57 votes.

The next year was to prove a major campaigning act for the now Alan Beith MP, just three months after his by-election victory he had to canvass his constituents again at the February 1974 general election, his majority increased to 443. Less than a year after he was elected for the first time, Beith contested the constituency for a third time at the October 1974 general election when his majority reduced back to double figures at just 73.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party

Beith was appointed a Member of the BBC Advisory Council in 1974 a position he held until 1984. On the election of David Steel as the Leader of the Liberal Party in 1976, Alan Beith became [[Liberal Party Chief Whip in the Commons. After the 1983 general election he was appointed Liberal Spokesman for Constitutional Affairs. He was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in 1985, in both cases alongside his duties as Chief Whip.

After the United Kingdom general election, 1987, Beith concentrated his efforts as Liberal Spokesman on Treasury Affairs and stood down as the Chief Whip after eleven years in post. In 1988 the Liberal Party joined with the Social Democratic Party creating the new party, of (initially) Social and Liberal Democrats.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Beith stood against Paddy Ashdown in the first leadership election in 1988, an election that Ashdown won by a large margin. Beith stayed on as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats following the 1992 general election under Ashdown until 2003, and was sworn of the Privy Council in 1992. In 1994, he became the Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, in which postb he continued under Charles Kennedy. After the 2001 general election he briefly became Lib Dem Spokesman for the Lord Chancellor's Department, but left the Lib Dem Frontbench in 2002, though remaining its Deputy Leader until the following year.

After standing down from the Lib Dem Frontbench he chaired the [[House of Commons|Commons[[ Constitutional Affairs, and Justice Committees. Following the resignation of Sir Menzies Campbell as Leader of the Liberal Democrats on 15 October 2007, Beith was spoken of as a possible compromise candidate for the leadership. However, in a statement on his personal website, he announced his decision not to stand for election for his party's leadership.

Beith was knighted in the 2008 Birthday Honours. At the May 2010 general election he was returned as MP for Berwick, albeit his majority being reduced by a substantial swing to the Conservatives.

Sir Alan announced on 7 August 2013 that he would be standing down from Parliament at the next election, having represented Berwick-upon-Tweed as MP for 42 years.[2]

Expenses scandal

On 22 May 2009, Sir Alan Beith was reported by The Daily Telegraph to have claimed £117,000 in second home allowances while his wife, Baroness Maddock, claimed £60,000 Lords expenses for staying at the same address.[3]

In response, Beith wrote to the Telegraph journalist: "It would be quite wrong for the taxpayer to pay twice for the same costs, so we have shared the costs, either by sharing the cost of rent, or by my wife using her allowance towards costs incurred (she normally claims only half of the Lords' overnight allowance)."[4]

2009 Speaker election

On 19 May 2009, Beith was the first MP to put forward his name to succeed the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin – who stepped down from the House of Commons on 21 June 2009. Beith said he was "willing to take on the task of leading reform" as speaker. [5]

Coalition Government

Beith currently chairs the Justice Select Committee[6] and the Liaison Select Committee.

He was one of only four Liberal Democrat MPs to vote against the third reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.[7] He was the only Liberal Democrat MP to vote against recognising Palestine as a state on the vote on 13 October 2014.[8][9]

Sir Alan has campaigned throughout his years in parliament for the A1 road to be dualled in Northumberland.[10]

Personal life

Beith was married in 1965 to Barbara Ward and they had a son and a daughter. His first wife died in 1998 and he married Diana Maddock, Baroness Maddock, the MP for Christchurch (1993–97) in 2001.[11] He and his wife are one of the few married couples to both hold titles in their own right.

Sir Alan and Baroness Maddock live in Berwick upon Tweed.

Sir Alan is President of the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum and President of the Historic Chapels Trust, a charity he helped to found and of which was Chair of Trustees 2001-2014. Beith is President of Northumberland Hospital Radio. He is President of the National Liberal Club.

He was awarded an honorary degree from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana in 2013.

Sir Alan has an interest in learning languages and speaks Welsh, Norwegian, Swedish and French.

References

  1. ^ "Dissolution Peerages 2015". Gov.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  2. ^ Alan Beith to step down in 2015. Liberal Democrat Voice (07 August 2013). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  3. ^ Winnett, Robert; Watt, Holly; Prince, Rosa (22 May 2009). "MPs' expenses: cover-up of Ian Gibson and his daughter's cut-price flat deal". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Beith, Alan (22 May 2009). "Beith publishes full Telegraph questions and answers". Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "First MP discusses run as Speaker". BBC News. 19 May 2009. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Justice Committee Membership". parliament.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  7. ^ MPs who voted against the third reading of the equal marriage bill. Pink News. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  8. ^ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 13 Oct 2014 (pt 0004)". parliament.uk.
  9. ^ "MPs debate Palestine and Israel". UK Parliament.
  10. ^ Retiring MP Sir Alan Beith. Chronicle. Retrieved 06 October 2014.
  11. ^ "About Alan Beith". http://berwicklibdems.org.uk/en/page/alan-beith. Retrieved 19 March 2015. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Berwick-upon-Tweed
1973–2015 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Liberal Chief Whip of the House of Commons
1977–1985 		Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
John Pardoe 		Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
1985–1988 		Succeeded byas Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Preceded by Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats
1992–2003 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alan_Beith&oldid=678772109"