John Moore, Baron Moore of Lower Marsh

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John Edward Michael Moore, Baron Moore of Lower Marsh, PC (born November 26, 1937), is a British politician who was Member of Parliament for Croydon Central, and under Margaret Thatcher was a cabinet minister. For a time he was considered a rising star of the Conservative Party and a potential leadership contender.

Moore entered Parliament in 1974, after a successful business career and education at the London School of Economics. He joined Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet in 1986 as Secretary of State for Transport. The following year he was tasked with setting direction for the National Health Service (NHS) as Secretary of State for Social Services. After he took office on June 13, 1987 the Labour Party attacked him as Mr. Privatisation for attempting to bring market forces into the service, and accused him of trying to abolish the NHS. The Liberals joined the fray, accusing him of having no original ideas. His efforts in this area were largely ineffective. Then an illness caused him to lose his voice. He even fainted once in a Cabinet meeting. On July 25, 1988, Kenneth Clarke took over his Health Service responsibilities, and after a further year handling Social Security, he fell into obscurity.

Moore has since established a successful third career as non-executive chairman and director of a number of major enterprises, including Rolls Royce plc. He has recently retired as Chairman of the Monitor Group, Europe.

After leaving the Commons in 1992 Moore became a Life peer as Baron Moore of Lower Marsh, of Lower Marsh in the London Borough of Lambeth.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
New seat
Member of Parliament for Croydon Central
1974–1992
Succeeded by
Paul Beresford
Political offices
Preceded by
Jock Bruce-Gardyne
Economic Secretary to the Treasury
1983
Succeeded by
Ian Stewart
Preceded by
Nicholas Ridley
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
1983–1986
Succeeded by
Norman Lamont
Preceded by
Nicholas Ridley
Secretary of State for Transport
1986–1987
Succeeded by
Paul Channon
Preceded by
Norman Fowler
Secretary of State for Social Services (inc. Health)
1987–1988
Succeeded by
Secretary of State for Health
Kenneth Clarke
Secretary of State for Social Security
1987–1989
Succeeded by
Tony Newton


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