Zac Goldsmith

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Zac Goldsmith on BBC Breakfast in 2002
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Zac Goldsmith on BBC Breakfast in 2002

Frank Zacharias "Zac" Robin Goldsmith (born January 20, 1975), son of billionaire Sir James Goldsmith, is the editor of The Ecologist magazine and an adviser to the Conservative Party. Goldsmith is currently seeking selection as a Conservative candidate for the next general election[1].

Contents

[edit] Early life

Born in Westminster, London, England, Goldsmith is the middle child of the late billionaire Sir James Goldsmith and Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart. His parents had a polyamorous relationship[2] and they were both married to other people at the time of his birth.[3]. However they eventually divorced their spouses and were married in 1978. His father maintained simultaneous relationships with his second wife, Zac's mother and his mistresses.[4] In 1981, his father moved to New York[5] and was henceforth an occasional presence during his childhood.[6]

Goldsmith has an older sister, Jemima Goldsmith and a younger brother, Ben. He also has several half-siblings: Isabel from his father's first marriage; Alix and Manes from his father's second marriage; as well as Jetho and Charlotte[7], Zac's younger half siblings by his father's mistress, Laure Boulay de la Meurthe.[8] From his mother's first marriage to Mark Birley he has two brothers Rupert and Robin and a sister India Jane.[9]

He was raised at Ormeley Lodge, the family home in Surrey, and in France. He received his education at Eton College, but was expelled at the age of 16 when drugs were discovered in his room. Goldsmith claims the drugs weren't his.[10] In 1986 his brother Rupert Birley drowned whilst working in Togo,West Africa.[11] During his teens Goldsmith became interested in environmental issues when his father gave him a copy of Helena Norbert-Hodge's book 'Ancient Futures' with a note: "This will change your life.[12] He earned 4 A Levels from a Cambridge sixth-form college[13] before leaving England to travel the world. He then embarked on environmental work in the Himalayas and California.[14]

When his father died in 1997, Goldsmith inherited an estimated £300 million fortune. Goldsmith senior built a multi-billion pound fortune derived from a variety of financial activities, including: mining, forestry and paper-products. To protect his heirs from Inheritance Tax he flew by private jet from France to Spain during his last, fatal, illness. Paradoxically, Zac Goldmsith argues for new and heavy taxes on industries he feels are "under-taxed", like air travel.[15]

[edit] Career & Activism

An environmentalist and anti-globalisation campaigner, Zac succeeded his uncle Edward Goldsmith as editor and director of 'The Ecologist' in 1998. Goldsmith supports a variety of environmental and agricultural causes.

In 2001, Goldsmith announced that he would present 'The Ecologist' Magazine's 'Environmental Steward of the Year' award to US President George W. Bush. He reasoned: "American environmental groups report a large increase in donations since his inauguration; the global environmental crisis is making headlines like never before; and politicians of every hue are clamouring, albeit unconvincingly, to present their Green credentials."[16]

In 2002 he helped establish FARM, an organization that serves to unite farmers and environmentalists. Goldsmith also participated in founding the Organic Targets Bill Campaign.[17]. He is a patron of his brother Ben's charity The Manuka Club and the Mihai Eminescu Trust[18], which aims to conserve and maintain villages and communities in Transylvania and the Maramures.[19] In 2003 he was awarded the Beacon Prize for Young Philanthropist of the Year. In 2004 he received the Global Green Award for International Environmental Leadership.[20]

Goldsmith made headlines with his campaign against the multinational genetic engineering company Monsanto.[21] He is also a financier with a broad portfolio of investments ranging from the gaming industry to the doomed daily sports newspaper The Sportsman.[22]

[edit] Politics

In 2001 Goldsmith slammed members of the British government calling them "cowards" for their approach to environmental issues and he went on to say that "we live in an era of cartoon politics". [23]

Though he famously stated that the only way he would vote for the Conservative Party was if you "drugged" him first, Goldsmith made a political about face and joined the party[24]. He is currently on the Conservative Party's "A-List" (approved list) of prospective parliamentary candidates.

Goldsmith explained his political u-turn thus: "I don't know David Cameron very well. I like him. I think you can judge a book by its cover - whoever said you can't is wrong - that's the whole point of nature giving us intuition, instinct and so on.[25]"

In October 2006 members of his own party neglected to shortlist him for a safe constituency seat and Goldsmith failed to secure a position as a candidate for the seat in Meon Valley, Hampshire. [26]

Goldsmith has strong family ties to the Conservative Party. His brother Robin Birley makes large financial contributions to the party and both of his grandfathers were conservative members of parliament, Frank Goldsmith for the Tories and the 8th Marquess of Londonderry for Ireland's Unionist party. Goldsmith's politics are green, euro-sceptic and reactionary, heavily influenced by his father James and uncle Edward Goldsmith, who openly supports left and extreme right political groups such as the GRECE.[27]

Goldsmith is co-chairman of the Conservative Party's Quality of Life committee. Prior to becoming a Conservative Party advisor he claimed to support either UKIP or the Green Party of England and Wales at the ballot box.

A report recently published by the Quality of Life committee stated that carbon taxation would inevitably be imposed.[28] Coincidentally, Goldsmith's brother Robin Birley is the owner of Envirotrade, a company which sells so-called carbon credits to big businesses. The carbon credits provide the buyers with bigger pollution quotas.[29]

His wealth, life style, gambling and links with right-wing politicians and social reactionaries have led many in the environmental movement to regard him as a playboy dilettante with little to offer except large amounts of money. However according to columnist Nick Cohen, Goldsmith is "committed to the whole green package." [30]

[edit] Gambling

A fervent gambler, Goldsmith is a frequent guest at Aspinall's, a member-only club[31] where he often plays with his friend Tom Parker Bowles.[32] He admits "I could get out of control but I don't lose very much. Well, sometimes I do.[33]"

In 2004 Goldsmith finished 3rd in the Poker Million Masters II final table.

In May 2006 Goldsmith placed a bet with Ladbrokes that his former brother-in-law Imran Khan will become prime minister of Pakistan. Goldsmith reasoned,"He WILL become prime minister - or he'll be assassinated. One or the other."[34]

In September 2006 Goldsmith helped organized £10,000-a-head charity poker tournament at Fifty, a private club in London.[35]

[edit] Personal life

In 1999, he married model Sharon "Sheherazade" Ventura. Goldsmith explained "The only reason we got married was we wanted to start breeding."[36] The couple have three children: Uma, Thyra and James. The family share their time between London, and their 300 acre ecological estate in Devon.

In February 2006 Goldsmith and his wife made 'Vanity Fair' magazine's 67th annual International Best-Dressed List.[37] Goldsmith has been known to recycle his father's old clothes and claims to only have purchased two pair of shoes in his life.[38]

In September 2006, the Sunday Mirror reported that Goldsmith had been having an affair with a friend of his wife's, 22 year old heiress Alice Rothschild; whose sister Kate is married to his brother Ben Goldsmith [39].

Ben, reportedly "appalled" by the disclosure, remarked that Zac "behaved arrogantly" and it could cost him "his dream of being prime minister one day"[40].

Alice Rothschild has since moved to the US.[41] There are reports of Goldsmith carousing with other women as well.[42] Zac's amorous activities have earned him the nicknames 'Randy Zac'[43] and 'Love Shack Goldsmith'[44] in the UK press.

Goldsmith insists that he will not discuss his private life, but he has stated he is "not a monk"[45] and explained,"Obviously I got married with a view to my marriage lasting. I'm very lucky it works. But it's rather like smoking. I wouldn't say I'm never going to smoke again. I find that too daunting."[46]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2006/05/as_promised_thi.html
  2. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=405211&in_page_id=1879&in_a_source=
  3. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=405211&in_page_id=1879&in_a_source=
  4. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=405211&in_page_id=1879&in_a_source=
  5. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=405211&in_page_id=1879&in_a_source=
  6. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4544600.stm
  7. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=393668&in_page_id=1879
  8. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_James_Goldsmith
  9. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Annabel_Vane-Tempest-Stewart
  10. ^ http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4647305-110648,00.html
  11. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20041004/ai_n12100840/pg_2
  12. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/03/27/tlzac27.html
  13. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/03/27/tlzac27.html
  14. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4544600.stm
  15. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/5321142.stm
  16. ^ http://www.viridiandesign.org/notes/251-300/00256_political_developments.html
  17. ^ http://www.wfc.logichound.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=64&lang=en/zac.gol
  18. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=408870&in_page_id=1770
  19. ^ http://www.mihaieminescutrust.org/content/nd_standard.asp?n=114
  20. ^ http://www.futermanrose.co.uk/goldsmith.html
  21. ^ http://www.mindfully.org/GE/GE4/Seeds-Of-Discord-Goldsmith2mar02.htm
  22. ^ http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/News/Articlex/.../emSportsmanem-calls-it-a-day.html
  23. ^ http://www.commondreams.org/views01/0520-05.htm
  24. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4544600.stm
  25. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4544600.stm
  26. ^ http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=tories-snub-randy-zac-&method=full&objectid=18008895&siteid=62484-name_page.html
  27. ^ http://www.gebladerte.nl/30014v02.htm
  28. ^ http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,1886212,00.html
  29. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/columnists/columnists.html?in_article_id=406986&in_page_id=1772&in_author_id=230
  30. ^ http://www.nickcohen.net/index.php?paged=8
  31. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=406705&in_page_id=1766&in_a_source=&ito=1490
  32. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/403352.stm
  33. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4544600.stm
  34. ^ http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/result/tm_method=full%26objectid=17151527%26siteid=94762-name_page.html
  35. ^ http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23368246-details/Goldsmith%20clan%20play%20happy%20families%20at%20celebrity%20poker%20night/article.do
  36. ^ http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17808877&method=full&siteid=62484&headline=having-it-toff--name_page.html
  37. ^ http://www.wwd.com/related/article/107978
  38. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/03/27/tlzac27.html
  39. ^ http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17808877%26method=full%26siteid=62484%26headline=exclusive%2d%2d%2d300m%2dtory%2ds%2dbedding%2dpal%2dof%2dhis%2dwife-name_page.html
  40. ^ http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/10/17/1988284.htm
  41. ^ http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=tories-snub-randy-zac-&method=full&objectid=18008895&siteid=62484-name_page.html
  42. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=406705&in_page_id=1766&in_a_source=&ito=1490
  43. ^ http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=tories-snub-randy-zac-&method=full&objectid=18008895&siteid=62484-name_page.html
  44. ^ http://www.mirror.co.uk/northernireland/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=17813624%26siteid=94762-name_page.html
  45. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4544600.stm
  46. ^ http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17808877&method=full&siteid=62484&headline=having-it-toff--name_page.html
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