Richard Newby, Baron Newby

The Right Honourable
The Lord Newby
OBE PC
Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
Assumed office
13 September 2016
Leader Tim Farron
Vince Cable
Preceded by The Lord Wallace of Tankerness
Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the House of Lords
In office
3 May 2012 – 13 September 2016
Leader Nick Clegg
Tim Farron
Preceded by The Lord Shutt of Greetland
Succeeded by The Lord Stoneham of Droxford
Deputy Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
In office
3 May 2012 – 8 May 2015
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by The Lord Shutt of Greetland
Succeeded by The Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Personal details
Born (1953-02-14) 14 February 1953
Political party Social Democratic (Before 1988)
Liberal Democrats (1988–present)
Alma mater St Catherine's College, Oxford

Richard Mark Newby, Baron Newby OBE PC (born 14 February 1953), known popularly as Dick Newby, is a British politician, who has been the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords[1] since September 2016.[2] He served as the Deputy Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords, and the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard between 2012 and 2015, and the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the House of Lords from 2012 to 2016.

Early life, education and career

The son of Frank and Kathleen Newby, he was educated at the Rothwell Grammar School in the village of Lofthouse in West Yorkshire, followed by St Catherine's College at the University of Oxford, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, politics and economics in 1974 and was later awarded a Master of Arts degree.

On leaving university, Newby joined HM Customs and Excise where he became principal in charge of budget coordination in 1980.

After the SDP he became director of corporate affairs at Rosehaugh plc, a major property developer. He subsequently became a consultant on corporate social responsibility.

Newby worked extensively on programmes which used the power of sport to help motivate and educate children and young people. He was chair of sport at The Prince's Trust (1997–2012), chair of International Development Through Sport (a UK Sport charity) and chair of Sport for Life International, of which he remains patron.

Political career

Newby was Secretary of the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Committee in 1981, David Owen described him as 'an able young civil servant who resigned to come and work for us',[3] and National Secretary of the SDP from 1983 to 1988. He had parliamentary ambitions seeking the candidacy for Twickenham, challenging Vince Cable, in 1997.[4] From 1999 to 2006, Newby was Chief of Staff to Charles Kennedy. He was instrumental in the process of managing the succession of leadership from Kennedy to Menzies Campbell.[5][6]

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1990 New Year Honours[7] and was created a life peer with the title Baron Newby, of Rothwell in the County of West Yorkshire on 25 September 1997.[8]

At the beginning of May 2012, Lord Newby was appointed the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the House of Lords, and at the same time was appointed the Deputy Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords and Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard.

In September 2012, he was appointed Treasury spokesman in the House of Lords.

In September 2016 he was elected Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords replacing Lord Wallace of Tankerness.

Personal life

Lord Newby has been married since 1978 to the Rev. Ailsa Ballantyne Newby (née Thomson, now the Team Rector of St. Mary's Church, Putney); they have two sons. According to the House of Lords register of members interests, he jointly owns, with his wife, two flats in Lambeth, London, which are rented out.

References

  1. ↑ "Dick Newby is new Lib Dem Lords leader". Lib Dem Voice. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Lord Newby – UK Parliament". UK Parliament. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  3. ↑ Owen, David (1991). Time to declare. 486: Michael Joseph. ISBN 0-7181-3514-8.
  4. ↑ Cable, Vince (2009). Free Radical. Atlantic Books. p. 226. ISBN 978-184887-046-8.
  5. ↑ Hurst, Greg (2006). Charles Kennedy – a tragic flaw. Politico's. pp. 18–19, 22,49,96,148,153–4, 160–1. ISBN 1-84275-176-X.
  6. ↑ Campbell, Menzies (2008). An autobiography. Hodder and Stoughton. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-34089866-6.
  7. ↑ "No. 51981". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1989. p. 10.
  8. ↑ "No. 54907". The London Gazette. 1 October 1997. p. 11063.
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Political offices
Preceded by
The Lord Shutt of Greetland		 Deputy Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
2012–2015 		Succeeded by
The Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
2012–2015
Party political offices
Preceded by
The Lord Shutt of Greetland		 Liberal Democrat Chief Whip of the House of Lords
2012–2016 		Succeeded by
The Lord Stoneham of Droxford
Preceded by
The Lord Wallace of Tankerness		 Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
2016–present 		Incumbent
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