Roger Liddle
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Roger John Liddle (born 14 June 1947) is a British political adviser and consultant who is principally known for being Special Adviser on European matters to Tony Blair and for working together with Peter Mandelson on books outlining the political philosophy of the Labour Party under Blair's leadership.[citation needed]
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[edit] Family
The son of a railwayman, Liddle was born to a working-class family in Carlisle and attended Carlisle Grammar School. He undertook the Wyndham Scholarship at Queen's College, Oxford, where he also received degrees in Modern History and Management Studies. In 1983 he married the Honourable Caroline Thomson - daughter of Lord Thomson of Monifieth, former Labour Member of Parliament for Dundee East. She is currently Chief Operating Officer of the BBC, having pursued a career in journalism. They have one son, Andrew.
[edit] Career
After studying Roger worked in research for the Oxford School of Social and Administrative Studies and as an industrial relations Officer for The Electricity Council. In 1976 he moved into politics by becoming Special Adviser to William Rodgers, Secretary of State for Transport.
From there he became Director of the Public Policy Centre, undertaking pioneering work on the regulation of privatised industries, exchange rate policy, regional policy, science and industrial policy, employee participation and wage determination, and choice in public services.
Liddle then moved into the private sector for 10 years, taking the position of Managing Director of Prima Europe Ltd – a consultancy company advising on the impact of politics and regulation at European and national level.
[edit] Blair government
In 1997 he moved back into politics to become Special Adviser on European matters to Prime Minister Tony Blair. During a seven year spell in this role he developed a new UK policy of positive engagement in the European Union, focusing on economic reform, innovation and enterprise promotion; modernisation of Welfare States and labour market reform; as well as institutional issues, the Constitutional Treaty, and European Defence. He was also responsible for liaison with business and trade unions on European issues.
After a spell at Number 10 he became a Member of the Cabinet of the European Union Trade Commissioner, where he advised on EU policy and their impact on the UK. In 2006 he moved on to become Principal Adviser to the President of the European Commission, leading a team of economists and experts in the Bureau of European Policy Advisers advising on the economic and social challenges facing Europe.
Liddle is a Board Member for the Policy Network – an international think tank bringing together academics, policy makers and politicians across the progressive centre left; responsible for major projects on the future of the European Social Model, public service reform, immigration and integration, flexicurity, and globalisation and social justice.[1] He is also a visiting fellow of the European Institute at the London School of Economics.[2]
[edit] Political approach
Liddle has also played a more direct role in politics, as a councillor on Oxford City Council and Lambeth Borough Council. He was a founding member of the Social Democratic Party in 1981 and a member of the party’s national committee until 1986, during which time he contested a number of parliamentary seats, including the 1986 Fulham byelection.
Liddle has written four books, all focusing firmly on European issues. Most recently Global Europe, Social Europe with Anthony Giddens and Patrick Diamond. Together with Peter Mandelson he wrote The Blair Revolution: Can New Labour Deliver? In 1996. His thoughts on the future of Europe, made during his time in the Commission, were published in a Fabian Ideas pamphlet in 2005.
[edit] Publications
Progressive governance 2008: the path to a global progressive consensus, April 2008 [1]
Creating a culture of fairness: a progressive response to income inequality in Britain, January 2008 [2]
A new social Europe, September 2007 [3]
The social reality of Europe, March 2007 [4]
Global Europe Social Europe, October 2006 [5]
Economic Reform in Europe: Priorities for the next five years, November 2004 [6]
