Alan Beith
Alan Beith is Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed. He is also the longest serving Lib Dem MP, first elected in 1973.[1]
He was former Chief Whip of the Liberal Party and a former Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and the Liberal Democrats (1992-2002).[2]
He is also Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the UK Aluminium Industry run by the Aluminium Federation.[3]
He was educated at Nuffield and Balliol colleges, Oxford University and went on to be a Politics lecturer before becoming MP. He is now married to Baroness Maddock (formerly Diana Maddock, Liberal Democrat MP for Christchurch, 1993-1997).[4]
According to 'your next MP' website:
- 'He is currently Chairman of the Justice Committee of the House of Commons, and was a member of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee from its creation in 1994 to 2008. In the House of Commons he served for 18 years as a member of the House of Commons Commission, and previously served on the Treasury Select Committee and the Procedure Committee. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1992, and served as Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Privy Counsellors to review the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and the Privy Council Review of the use of telephone intercept as evidence in prosecutions (2007) and currently serving of the Advisory Group on the implementation of its proposals. [5]
- He has held a wide range of posts within the Liberal Democrats' Parliamentary Party. Was Northern Ireland Spokesman from 1974 to 1976 and again in 1982. Between 1977 and 1983 covered the Education and Fisheries portfolios and from 1985 to 1987 was Foreign Affairs Spokesman, before taking on the Treasury portfolio which he held until 1994. From 1994 to 1999 Alan Beith was the Liberal Democrats' Home Affairs Spokesman.[6]
- Alan Beith was the Chief Whip of the Liberal Party from 1976 to 1985 when he became the party's Deputy Leader. In 1988 he stood against Paddy Ashdown for the leadership of the Social and Liberal Democrats (later shortened to the Liberal Democrats), the party formed following the merger of the Liberal Party and the SDP. Alan Beith was Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 1992 to 2003 under Paddy Ashdown and subsequently Charles Kennedy's leadership.'[7]
Resources
Notes
- ↑ Alan Beith, Liberal Democrats Website Parliamentary candidates Accessed 16/05/10
- ↑ Your Next MP website, Candidates Alan Beith Accessed 16/05/10
- ↑ All party parliamentary groups, subject groups All-Party Parliamentary Group for the UK Aluminium Industry House of Commons website. Accessed 07/04/10
- ↑ Alan Beith, Liberal Democrats Website Parliamentary candidates Accessed 16/05/10
- ↑ Your Next MP website, Candidates Alan Beith Accessed 16/05/10
- ↑ Your Next MP website, Candidates Alan Beith Accessed 16/05/10
- ↑ Your Next MP website, Candidates Alan Beith Accessed 16/05/10
