John Wakeham

John Wakeham began his political career with the Conservative Party in 1974, he was appointed a life peer in 1992 by John Major. During his time in politics he has held several high profile positions, lord privy seal and Leader of the House of Commons in 1987-88, lord president of the council and Leader of the House of Commons in 1988-89, and Secretary of State for energy in 1989-92. He became a life peer in 1992 as Lord Wakeham, and was lord privy seal and Leader of the House of Lords from 1992-94 . Wakeham was Thatcher's chief whip in the 1980's, and as leader of the house in the late 1980's he was involved in the pilot scheme to televise the houses of parliament. As energy secretary he oversaw the task of the privitisation of electricity.

According to the BBC Wakeham was once described as "a man so well connected that he probably networks in his dreams" . He was appointed by Tony Blair to head a royal commission on the reform of the House of Lords, his final report was criticised for not going far enough, especially his recommendation that less than a quarter of the House should be elected .

Affiliations

Wakeham's interests listed by the House of Lords include:

• Advisory Board, LEK Consultancy
• Chairman, Genner Holdings plc
• Genner Holdings Ltd, Shareholder
• Genner Farms Ltd, Shareholder

Membership of Public Bodies

• Chairman of Governors, Cothill Educational Trust
• Chairman, Alexandra Rose Day
• Chancellor, Brunel University
• Deputy Lieutenant for Hampshire
• Governor, Sutton's Hospital, Charterhouse
• Justice of the Peace, Inner London Commission (Non-active)
• President, Brendoncare Foundation

Office-holder in pressure groups or trade unions

• Convenor of the Lords and Commons Cigar and Pipe Smokers' Club
• Trustee, HMS Warrior 1860
• Trustee, Carlton Club

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Former Positions

• Conservative Party Chief Whip, under Thatcher
• Leader of the house of Commons
• Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission 1995-