John MacGregor, Baron MacGregor of Pulham Market

For other people named John MacGregor, see John MacGregor (disambiguation).
The Right Honourable
 The Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market
OBE PC FKC
Secretary of State for Transport
In office
11 April 1992 – 20 July 1994
Prime Minister John Major
Preceded by Malcolm Rifkind
Succeeded by Brian Mawhinney
Leader of the House of Commons
Lord President of the Council
In office
2 November 1990 – 11 April 1992
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
John Major
Preceded by Geoffrey Howe
Succeeded by Tony Newton
Secretary of State for Education and Science
In office
24 July 1989 – 2 November 1990
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by Kenneth Baker
Succeeded by Kenneth Clarke
Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
In office
13 June 1987 – 24 July 1989
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by Michael Jopling
Succeeded by John Gummer
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office
2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by Peter Rees
Succeeded by John Major
Member of Parliament
for South Norfolk
In office
28 February 1974 – 7 June 2001
Preceded by John Hill
Succeeded by Richard Bacon
Personal details
Born 14 February 1937 (1937-02-14) (age 75)
London, United Kingdom
Political party Conservative
Alma mater University of St Andrews
King's College London

John Roddick Russell MacGregor, Baron MacGregor of Pulham Market, OBE PC FKC (born 14 February 1937 (1937-02-14) (age 75)), is a politician in the United Kingdom. He was educated at Merchiston Castle School,[1] then at the University of St Andrews (MA economics and history, 1959) and at King's College London (LLB, 1962). Prior to the 1979 general election he worked for Hill Samuel, a merchant bank.[2]

He was Conservative MP for South Norfolk, but stepped down at the 2001 election.

Contents

Member of Parliament

He became an MP at the February 1974 General Election,[3] and served as a Tory whip from 1977 to 1981, when he became a junior minister at the Department of Trade and Industry, moving to MAFF in 1983.

In government

He entered the Cabinet on 2 September 1985 as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and was made Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1987 - during the BSE crisis. He was promoted to Secretary of State for Education and Science in July 1989. In the small reshuffle following the resignation of Sir Geoffrey Howe, he was made Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council just days before Thatcher's own resignation. He continued in this position from 1990 to 1992, although William Keegan writes that he was a contender for the position of Chancellor when John Major came to power.[4] He was made Secretary of State for Transport in 1992, remaining in the post until July 1994 when he left the cabinet. His time as Minister for Transport saw him given responsibility for the privatisation of British Rail.[5][6] He was made a life peer as Baron MacGregor of Pulham Market, of Pulham Market in the County of Norfolk on 5 July 2001.[7]

References

  1. ^ "How charitable status has boosted the income of Scotland's top private schools" The Herald (Glasgow); Feb 28, 2008; Andrew Denholm, Brian Donnelly; p. 5
  2. ^ "The real villains of our rail chaos" Evening Standard (London); Jul 25, 2003; WILL SELF; p. 13
  3. ^ "Theodore Mallinson" The Times (London); Oct 22, 2008; p. 61
  4. ^ "Business & Media: Mr Lamonts darkest day" The Observer (London); Jul 22, 2007; William Keegan; p. 6. "For Major it was simple: of four possibilities, neither Chris Patten nor Ken Clarke had any Treasury experience. John MacGregor and Lamont were 'both credible candidates'"
  5. ^ UK government procurement, a litany of ineptitude
  6. ^ "The real Hatfield culprits" Evening Standard (London); Jul 11, 2003; WILL SELF; p. 13
  7. ^ "Life Baronies", The Times (London); Jul 9, 2001; p. 14

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
John Hill		 Member of Parliament for South Norfolk
1974–2001		 Succeeded by
Richard Bacon
Political offices
Preceded by
Peter Rees		 Chief Secretary to the Treasury
1985–1987		 Succeeded by
John Major
Preceded by
Michael Jopling		 Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
1987–1989		 Succeeded by
John Gummer
Preceded by
Kenneth Baker		 Secretary of State for Education and Science
1989–1990		 Succeeded by
Kenneth Clarke
Preceded by
Geoffrey Howe		 Lord President of the Council
1990–1992		 Succeeded by
Tony Newton
Leader of the House of Commons
1990–1992
Preceded by
Malcolm Rifkind		 Secretary of State for Transport
1992–1994		 Succeeded by
Brian Mawhinney