| The Right Honourable Shirley Williams Baroness Williams of Crosby, PC | |
 | |
| In office 10 September 1976 – 4 May 1979 | |
| Prime Minister | James Callaghan |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | Edmund Dell |
| Succeeded by | Angus Maude |
| In office 10 September 1976 – 4 May 1979 | |
| Prime Minister | James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | Fred Mulley |
| Succeeded by | Mark Carlisle |
| In office 28 February 1974 – 8 April 1976 | |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | office created |
| Succeeded by | Roy Hattersley |
| Born | 27 July 1930 London, UK |
| Political party | Labour Party (1964 - 1981) SDP (1981 - 1988) Liberal Democrats(1988 - present) |
| Alma mater | Somerville College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Journalist |
Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby PC (born 27 July 1930), is a British politician and academic. The Right Honourable (abbreviated as The Rt Hon) is an Honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain Shirley Williams Baroness Williams of Crosby PC (born 27 July 1930) is a British Politician and academic Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. HM Paymaster General is a ministerial position in the United Kingdom. Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Leonard James Callaghan Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005 was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 Edmund Emanuel Dell PC ( August 15 1921 &ndash October 28 1999) was a British politician and businessman Angus Edmund Upton Maude Baron Maude of Stratford-upon-Avon (8 September 1912 &ndash 9 November 1993 was a Conservative Party politician and British cabinet member The Secretary of State for Education and Skills was the chief minister of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom government Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Leonard James Callaghan Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005 was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 Frederick William Mulley Baron Mulley PC ( 3 July, 1918 – 15 March 1995) was a British Labour politician barrister-at-law Mark Carlisle Baron Carlisle of Bucklow QC DL PC (born 7 July 1929 and died 14 July 2005) was a Conservative The Department of Prices and Consumer Protection was a short-lived United Kingdom government department created by the incoming Labour government in 1974 Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. James Harold Wilson Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 &ndash 24 May 1995 was one of the most prominent British politicians Roy Sydney George Hattersley Baron Hattersley, PC, (born 28 December 1932 is a British Labour Party Politician, published author and journalist Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the This is about the UK Social Democratic Party which existed between 1981 and 1988 The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval Somerville College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, and was one of the first Women's colleges to A journalist (also called a newspaperman) is a person who practices Journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events trends Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person Originally a Labour Member of Parliament (MP), she was one of the "Gang of Four" rebels who founded the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1981. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. This is about the UK Social Democratic Party which existed between 1981 and 1988 This is about the UK Social Democratic Party which existed between 1981 and 1988 Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 [1] In 2001-2004, she served as Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, and now serves as an Advisor on Nuclear Proliferation to Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Williams also serves as Emeritus Professor of Electoral Politics at the Kennedy School of Government. The John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (also known as Harvard Kennedy School and HKS) is a Public policy and
Contents |
Early life
Born Shirley Vivien Teresa Brittain Catlin, Williams is the daughter of political scientist and philosopher Sir George Catlin, and novelist Vera Brittain. Political science is a branch of Social sciences that deals with the theory and practice of Politics and the description and analysis of Political systems Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Sir George Edward Gordon Catlin (1896 Liverpool -1979 was an English political scientist and philosopher. Vera Mary Brittain ( 29 December 1893 – 29 March 1970) was an English writer feminist and pacifist best remembered as the She began her career as a journalist after graduating from Somerville College, Oxford several years after Margaret Thatcher's graduation from the same college. Somerville College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, and was one of the first Women's colleges to Margaret Hilda Thatcher Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925 She also was a Fulbright Scholar and studied at Columbia University in New York City. The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of grants for international educational exchange for scholars educators graduate Columbia University is a private University in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. The City of New York Williams was first married to the philosopher Sir Bernard Williams from 1955 to 1974, and then married to Richard E. Neustadt, a professor at Harvard University, from 1987 until his death in 2003. Sir Bernard Arthur Owen Williams FBA (21 September 1929 &ndash 10 June 2003 has been described as the most important British moral philosopher of his time Richard Elliott Neustadt ( June 26, 1919 – October 31, 2003) was an American political Scientist specializing
Baroness Williams served as a full professor at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government from 1988 to 2001 and thereafter as Public Service Professor of Electoral Politics, Emerita.
Baroness Williams was a pupil at Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth, Dorset. Talbot Heath School is a selective independent day and boarding school for girls aged 3-18 and boys 3-7 located in Talbot Woods Bournemouth.
Member of Parliament
At the 1964 general election, Williams was elected as Labour MP for the constituency of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, and rose quickly to a junior ministerial position. Campaign The pre-election campaign was prolonged as Douglas-Home delayed calling a general election in order to try to give himself the maximum time to improve the In the United Kingdom (UK, each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly Hitchin was a parliamentary constituency in Hertfordshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of Between 1971 and 1973 she served as shadow Home Secretary. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office In 1974 she became Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection under Harold Wilson, and, when Wilson was succeeded in 1976 by James Callaghan, she became Secretary of State for Education and Paymaster General, two cabinet positions held at the same time. The Department of Prices and Consumer Protection was a short-lived United Kingdom government department created by the incoming Labour government in 1974 James Harold Wilson Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 &ndash 24 May 1995 was one of the most prominent British politicians Leonard James Callaghan Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005 was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 The Secretary of State for Education and Skills was the chief minister of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom government
Creating the SDP
Williams lost her seat to Bowen Wells in the Labour Party general-election defeat of 1979 (her seat was renamed Hertford and Stevenage in 1974). Petrie Bowen Wells, known as Bowen Wells; (born 4 August 1935) is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. Background Callaghan had succeeded Harold Wilson as Labour Prime Minister after the latter's surprise resignation in April 1976 Hertford and Stevenage was a parliamentary constituency in Hertfordshire, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons In 1981, unhappy with the influence of the far left in the Labour Party, she resigned from it to form the SDP, along with Roy Jenkins, David Owen and Bill Rodgers. Roy Harris Jenkins Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM PC ( 11 November 1920 &ndash 5 January 2003) was a British David Anthony Llewellyn Owen Baron Owen of Plymouth, CH PC FKC (born 2 July 1938) is a British Politician, Later that year, following the death of Conservative Sir Graham Page, she won a by-election in Crosby in Merseyside, becoming the first elected SDP MP. Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favour Tradition, where tradition refers to various religious cultural or nationally defined Sir is an Honorific used as a title (see Knight) and in several other modern contexts Sir (Rodney Graham Page ( 30 June 1911 &ndash 1 October 1981) was a British Conservative Party politician The Crosby by-election 1981, was held on 26 November 1981, following the death of Sir Graham Page, Conservative Party Member of Parliament Merseyside is a Metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1365900
General Election defeat
Despite becoming SDP President, she lost her seat in the 1983 general election. Results The Conservatives won with a majority of 144 seats|} Total votes cast 30661309 She then stood for Cambridge in the 1987 general election, but lost to the Conservative candidate. Cambridge is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Results |} All parties gaining over 500 votes listed Campaign and policies The Conservatives' campaign emphasized lower taxes a strong economy and defence Williams supported the SDP's 1988 merger with the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the Also during this time, Williams served as a BBC broadcaster on "In Conversation with Shirley Williams" and has appeared on many television and radio programmes, including as a commentator on BBC's "Question Time" more than any other panelist.
Life peer
Williams was awarded a life peerage with the title The Baroness Williams of Crosby, of Stevenage in the County of Hertfordshire, PC, in 1993 and subsequently served as Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords from 2001 to 2004. In the United Kingdom, life peers are created members of the Peerage whose titles may not be inherited (those whose titles are inheritable are known as Hereditary Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords"
Among other nonprofit boards, Williams serves on the Advisory Council of the Institute for Public Policy Research, (USA) Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Chatham House (president), the Twentieth Century Fund, and the Washington-based think-tank Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR is a UK Think-tank with strong ties to the Labour party that claims to produce progressive ideas committed Chatham House, formally known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a Non-profit, Non-governmental organization based in London
In June 2007, after Gordon Brown replaced Tony Blair as Prime Minister, Williams conditionally accepted a formal Government position as Advisor on Nuclear Proliferation provided she could serve as an independent advisor. The Office of Prime Minister is currently reviewing her conditions.
Personal life
In 1988, Williams moved to the United States, to serve as a professor at Harvard University, but remained active in politics and public service in the UK, USA, and internationally. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Williams helped draft constitutions in Russia, Ukraine, and South Africa; served as director of Harvard's Project Liberty, an initiative designed to assist the emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe; as UN Special Representative to the former Yugoslavia; and as a member of the European Union's Comite des Sages, among other top policy positions. Upon her elevation to the House of Lords in 1993, however, she returned to the UK to continue public life.
Baroness Williams, among other ongoing activities, is reportedly working on her autobiography.
Further reading
Shirley Williams has published several books including:
- God and Caesar: Personal Reflections on Politics and Religion (2003)
- New Party - The New Technology (1988)
- A Job to Live (1985)
- Politics is for People (1981)
There is a substantial article on Shirley Williams by Phillip Whitehead in the Dictionary of Labour Biography, by Greg Rosen (ed), Politicos Publishing, 2001. Phillip Whitehead, MA ( May 30, 1937 &ndash December 31, 2005) was a British Labour politician television
Notes
- ^ The SDP later merged with the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the rise of the Labour Party in the 1920s and a third party The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the
External links
- Baroness Williams of Crosby (profile on the Liberal Democrats' website)
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Madden | Member of Parliament for Hitchin 1964–1974 | Succeeded by Ian Stewart |
| Preceded by (new constituency) | Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stevenage 1974–1979 | Succeeded by Bowen Wells |
| Preceded by Graham Page | Member of Parliament for Crosby 1981–1983 | Succeeded by Malcolm Thornton |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by James Callaghan | Shadow Home Secretary 1971–1973 | Succeeded by Roy Jenkins |
| Preceded by Office Created | Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection 1974–1976 | Succeeded by Roy Hattersley |
| Preceded by Frederick Mulley | Secretary of State for Education and Science 1976–1979 | Succeeded by Mark Carlisle |
| Preceded by Edmund Dell | Paymaster-General 1976–1979 | Succeeded by Angus Maude |
| Preceded by The Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank | Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of Lords 2001–2004 | Succeeded by The Lord McNally |
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