John MacGregor, Baron MacGregor of Pulham Market
John Roddick Russell MacGregor, Baron MacGregor of Pulham Market, OBE PC FKC (born 14 February 1937), 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]
MacGregor is also an accomplished magician and member of The Magic Circle. He gave regular performances on British television, including guest spots on The Best of Magic and an annual children's charity programme on Anglia Television.[3]
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1971 New Year Honours for political services.[4]
He was Conservative MP for South Norfolk, but stepped down at the 2001 election.
Member of Parliament
He became an MP at the February 1974 General Election,[5] 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.[6] 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 Transport Secretary saw him given responsibility for the privatisation of British Rail and the decision to privatise the Transport Research Laboratory(TRL).[7] He was made a life peer as Baron MacGregor of Pulham Market, of Pulham Market in the County of Norfolk on 5 July 2001.[8][9]
Styles of address
- 1937-1971: Mr John MacGregor
- 1971-1974: Mr John MacGregor OBE
- 1974-1985: Mr John MacGregor OBE MP
- 1985-2001: The Right Honourable John MacGregor OBE MP
- 2001: The Right Honourable John MacGregor OBE
- 2001-: The Right Honourable The Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market OBE PC
References
- ↑ "How charitable status has boosted the income of Scotland's top private schools" The Herald (Glasgow); 28 Feb 2008; Andrew Denholm, Brian Donnelly; p. 5
- ↑ Debretts, The Rt Hon the Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market, OBE
- ↑ Macintyre, Donald (1993-01-24). "Profile: And for his next trick…: John MacGregor - The Transport Secretary will need more than his magician's skill to make a success of rail privatisation". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
- ↑ "No. 45262". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1971. p. 11.
- ↑ "Theodore Mallinson" The Times (London); 22 Oct 2008; p. 61
- ↑ "Business & Media: Mr Lamonts darkest day" The Observer (London); 22 Jul 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'"
- ↑ Hansard Wednesday 30 March 1994 Col 750-751 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-03-30/Writtens-1.html
- ↑ "No. 56270". The London Gazette. 10 July 2001. p. 8123.
- ↑ "Life Baronies", The Times (London); 9 Jul 2001; p. 14
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by John MacGregor
- House of Commons biography
| 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 |
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