| Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1947 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Alma mater | University College, Oxford |
Matthew Alan Oakeshott, Baron Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay (born 10 January 1947), is a British Liberal Democrat politician.
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Oakeshott is the son of Keith Robertson Oakeshott and Eva Jill Oakeshott.
Oakeshott was educated at Charterhouse School, a co-educational independent school in Godalming in Surrey, followed by University College at the University of Oxford, from which he graduated in 1968 in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Oakeshott worked in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of Kenya from 1968 to 1970. During 1970 to 1972, he undertook post-graduate studies at Nuffield College, University of Oxford, though without completing a graduate degree. He served during the latter period as a member of the Oxford City Council, elected as a then-member of the Labour Party.
From 1972 to 1976, Oakeshott was Special Adviser to Roy Jenkins, initially a "Chocolate Soldier" and later funded by Short Money. After this he became a director of Warburg Investment Management, a post which he held until 1981. Following this, he worked as manager for Courtaulds Pension Fund until 1985. One year later, he became founder director of OLIM Ltd. and investment director of Value and Income Trust.
He was made a life peer as Baron Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, of Seagrove Bay in the County of Isle of Wight on 1 May 2000.[1] He is currently on the advisory board of the liberal CentreForum think-tank, and was the Liberal Democrats' Treasury Spokesman in the Lords until February 2011. He stood down by "mutual agreement" after he described the government's Project Merlin deal with the banks over lending and bonuses as "pitiful".[2]
Oakeshott has been married to Philippa Poulton since 1976; they have two sons and one daughter. One of his relations is Isabel Oakeshott the political editor of the Sunday Times.[3]