John Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso

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Kbsmarion (talk) 10:54, 7 June 2008 (UTC)


 John Thurso MP
3rd Viscount Thurso
John Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso
Member of Parliament
for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Incumbent
Assumed office 
June 2001
Preceded by Robert Maclennan
Born 10 September 1953 (1953-09-10) (age 54)
Political party Liberal Democrats
Spouse Marion
Children 1 daughter, 2 sons

John Archibald Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso (born 10 September 1953), known as John Thurso, is a Scottish businessman and Liberal Democrat politician.

Contents

[edit] Education, Pre-Parliamentary Career and Responsibilities

John was educated in Thurso and at Eton.

He joined the Savoy Group as a management trainee in 1972 and following this worked for many years in the hospitality industry. His achievements included managing the Lancaster in Paris (81-85) and founding Cliveden (85-92) before becoming CEO of Granfel Holdings, owners of East Sussex National Golf Course from 1992 to 1995. Finally from 1995 until his election in 2001 he was CEO of the Champneys group. During his time in this jobe he featured in the TV documentary “Trouble at the top- shape up with Lord Thurso”.

John Thurso holds the Presidency of the Tourism Society and the Academy of Food and Wine Service. He is a Fellow of the HCIMA and was their Patron for 6 years, until June 2003. He is President of the British International Spa Association. (www.spaassociation.org.uk)

[edit] Politics

Following his father’s death in 1995 he took his seat in the House of Lords as 3rd Viscount Thurso where he was spokesman on Tourism and later Food. John spoke many times in the House of Lords in favour of Lords reform. His automatic right as a hereditary peer to sit in the House of Lords was abolished in 1999, and he chose not to try and stay.

At the United Kingdom general election, 2001 he was elected to the House of Commons to represent Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross becoming the first hereditary peer of the United Kingdom allowed to sit in the Commons without first renouncing his title. He served as Liberal Democrat Shadow Scotland Secretary under Charles Kennedy but was sacked by Sir Menzies Campbell. He has publicly gone against party policy by declaring his support for nuclear power, and his criticism of 24-hour drinking.

[edit] Family

Liberal politics is a bit of a tradition in John Thurso's family. The former constituency of Caithness and Sutherland had been held by his grandfather, Archibald Sinclair from 1922 until 1945. Archibald Sinclair was the 1st Viscount Thurso and a Liberal Party leader.

John has been married to Marion for 26 years and they have a daughter and 2 sons. The family live in Thurso.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Robert Maclennan		 Member of Parliament for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
2001 – present		 Incumbent
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Robin MacDonald Sinclair		 Viscount Thurso
1995 – present		 Incumbent
v • d • e
British viscounts*
*Current substantive viscounts, listed by precedence, from highest to lowest