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John Patten, Baron Patten

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This article is about The Lord Patten, a former Secretary of State for Education. For The Lord Patten of Barnes, the last Governor of Hong Kong and the former Chairman of the BBC Trust, see Chris Patten.

The Right Honourable
The Lord Patten
PC
Secretary of State for Education
In office
10 April 1992 – 20 July 1994
Prime MinisterJohn Major
Preceded byKenneth Clarke (Education and Science)
Succeeded byGillian Shephard
Minister of State for Home Affairs
In office
13 June 1987 – 10 April 1992
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
John Major
Preceded byDavid Mellor
Succeeded byPeter Lloyd
Minister of State for Housing
In office
2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byIan Gow
Succeeded byThe Hon. William Waldegrave
Member of Parliament
for Oxford West and Abingdon
Oxford (1979–1983)
In office
3 May 1979 – 1 May 1997
Preceded byEvan Luard
Succeeded byEvan Harris
Personal details
Born (1945-07-17) 17 July 1945 (age 79)
Political partyConservative
Alma materSidney Sussex College, Cambridge

John Haggitt Charles Patten, Baron Patten, PC (born 17 July 1945) is a former Conservative Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon. A Roman Catholic, he was educated by the Jesuits at Wimbledon College before graduating from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.

He was first elected for Oxford in 1979, transferring to Oxford West and Abingdon in 1983 after boundary changes divided the seat. He stood down at the 1997 general election. The seat was subsequently won by the Liberal Democrat Evan Harris.

Patten was offered the role as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by Margaret Thatcher but refused.[1]

Patten served as Secretary of State for Education from 1992 to 1994. He was interviewed at some length by Brian Sherratt in 1994 regarding his role as Secretary of State.[2] While he was Education Secretary, Patten described Birmingham education chief Tim Brighouse as "a madman ... wandering the streets, frightening the children." Brighouse sued, and won substantial damages which were donated to educational charities.[3]

Patten was created a life peer as Baron Patten of Wincanton in the County of Somerset on 17 June 1997.[4]

He is married to the businesswoman Louise Patten and they have one daughter, Mary-Claire.[5]

References

  1. ^ Michael White. "David Cameron's cabinet reshuffle: gossip, guesswork and predictions". the Guardian.
  2. ^ Radical Educational Policies and Conservative Secretaries of State, Ribbins P and Sherratt B, Cassell, 1997, pp 168-199
  3. ^ "The secrets of Saint Tim", The Guardian, 24 April 2007
  4. ^ "No. 54812". The London Gazette. 20 June 1997.
  5. ^ Louise Patten, Evening Standard, 2009-08-27
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Oxford
1979–1983 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon
1983–1997 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded byas Secretary of State for Education and Science Secretary of State for Education
1992–1994 		Succeeded by
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