Jump to content

Tom McNally, Baron McNally: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Added caption.
GreenC bot (talk | contribs)
 
(33 intermediate revisions by 26 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|British Liberal Democrat politician, Former Deputy Leader of the House of Lords}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}

{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = The Lord McNally
| name = The Lord McNally
| honorific-suffix = [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|PC]]
| honorific-suffix = [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|PC]]
| image = official portrait of Lord McNally crop 2.jpg
| image = Official portrait of Lord McNally, 2020.jpg
| caption = McNally in 2018
| caption = Official portrait, 2020
| office = [[Youth Justice Board|Chairman of the Youth Justice Board]]
| office = [[Youth Justice Board|Chairman of the Youth Justice Board]]
| term_start = March 2014
| term_start = March 2014
Line 11: Line 14:
| appointed = [[Chris Grayling]]
| appointed = [[Chris Grayling]]
| predecessor = [[Frances Done]]
| predecessor = [[Frances Done]]
| successor = Charlie Taylor <ref>{{cite web|title=Youth Justice Board website |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/charlie-taylor| accessdate=15 March 2018}}</ref>
| successor = Charlie Taylor <ref>{{cite web |title=Youth Justice Board website |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/charlie-taylor |access-date=15 March 2018 |archive-date=7 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005201/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/charlie-taylor |url-status=live }}</ref>
| office1 = [[Leader of the House of Lords|Deputy Leader of the House of Lords]]
| office1 = [[Leader of the House of Lords|Deputy Leader of the House of Lords]]
| primeminister1 = [[David Cameron]]
| primeminister1 = [[David Cameron]]
| leader1 = [[Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde|The Lord Strathclyde]]<br />[[Jonathan Hill, Baron Hill of Oareford|The Lord Hill of Oareford]]
| leader1 = [[Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde|The Lord Strathclyde]]<br />[[The Lord Hill of Oareford]]
| term_start1 = 13 May 2010
| term_start1 = 13 May 2010
| term_end1 = 15 October 2013
| term_end1 = 15 October 2013
| predecessor1 = [[Philip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings Heath|Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]]
| predecessor1 = [[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]]
| successor1 = [[Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness|Lord Wallace of Tankerness]]
| successor1 = [[Lord Wallace of Tankerness]]
| office2 = [[Justice Minister|Minister of State for Justice]]
| office2 = [[Justice Minister|Minister of State for Justice]]
| primeminister2 = [[David Cameron]]
| primeminister2 = [[David Cameron]]
Line 25: Line 28:
| predecessor2 = [[Michael Wills]]
| predecessor2 = [[Michael Wills]]
| successor2 = [[Simon Hughes]]
| successor2 = [[Simon Hughes]]
| office3 = [[List of United Kingdom Liberal Democrat leaders#Liberal Democrat Leaders in the House of Lords|Leader of the Liberal Democrats]]<br/>in the [[House of Lords]]
| office3 = [[Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords]]
| leader3 = [[Charles Kennedy]]<br/>[[Sir Menzies Campbell]]<br/>[[Vince Cable]] {{small|(acting)}}<br/>[[Nick Clegg]]
| leader3 = [[Charles Kennedy]]<br />[[Sir Menzies Campbell]]<br />[[Vince Cable]] {{small|(acting)}}<br />[[Nick Clegg]]
| predecessor3 = [[Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby|Baroness Williams of Crosby]]
| predecessor3 = [[Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby|The Baroness Williams of Crosby]]
| successor3 = [[Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness|Lord Wallace of Tankerness]]
| successor3 = [[Lord Wallace of Tankerness]]
| term_start3 = 24 November 2004
| term_start3 = 24 November 2004
| term_end3 = 15 October 2013
| term_end3 = 15 October 2013
| office4 = [[Members of the House of Lords|Member of the House of Lords]]<br />[[Lord Temporal]]
| office4 = [[Member of the House of Lords]]<br />[[Lord Temporal]]
| term_start4 = 20 December 1995<br />[[Life Peerage]]
| term_start4 = 9 January 1996<br />[[Life Peerage]]
| office5 = [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Stockport South (UK Parliament constituency)|Stockport South]]
| office5 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Stockport South]]
| term_start5 = 3 May 1979
| term_start5 = 3 May 1979
| term_end5 = 9 June 1983
| term_end5 = 13 May 1983
| predecessor5 = [[Maurice Orbach]]
| predecessor5 = [[Maurice Orbach]]
| successor5 = ''Constituency abolished''
| successor5 = ''Constituency abolished''

| office6 = [[Political Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]
| primeminister6 = [[Premiership of James Callaghan|James Callaghan]]
| term_start6 = 1976
| term_end6 = 1979
| predecessor6 = [[Marcia Falkender, Baroness Falkender|Marcia Falkender]]
| successor6 = [[Richard Ryder, Baron Ryder of Wensum|Richard Ryder]]

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|02|20|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|02|20|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
Line 44: Line 55:
| alma_mater = [[University College London]]
| alma_mater = [[University College London]]
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] {{small|(Before 1981)}}<br />[[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]] {{small|(1981–1988)}}<br />[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] {{small|(1988–present)}}
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] {{small|(until 1981)}}<br />[[Social Democratic Party (UK)|SDP]] {{small|(1981–1988)}}<br />[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] {{small|(1988–present)}}
}}
}}

'''Tom McNally, Baron McNally''', [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|PC]] (born 20 February 1943) is a British politician and a former [[Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords]].
'''Thomas McNally, Baron McNally''', [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|PC]] (born 20 February 1943) is a British politician and a former [[Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
McNally was born in [[Blackpool]] of [[Irish Catholic]] descent and attended [[St Joseph's College, Blackpool]]. He later attended [[University College London]], where he was elected president of the [[University College London Union|Debating Society]] as well as [[University College London Union]] President.<ref>''Who's Who''</ref>
McNally was born in [[Blackpool]]. A Catholic of Irish descent, he attended [[St Joseph's College, Blackpool]]. He later attended [[University College London]], where he was elected president of the [[University College London Union|Debating Society]] as well as [[University College London Union|Students' Union President]].{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
He later worked for the [[Fabian Society]], and then as a full-time employee of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], becoming its international secretary.<ref>{{cite news|author=United Kingdom |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/27080.stm |title=BBC Democracy Live: Lord McNally biography |work=BBC News |accessdate=25 July 2016}}</ref> He served as a [[political advisor]] to [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]], [[James Callaghan]] during the [[Cyprus conflict|conflict]] in [[Cyprus]] in the 1970s, before becoming head of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]'s [[10 Downing Street|political office]] at [[Downing Street]] in 1976 when Callaghan succeeded [[Harold Wilson]].<ref name=LibDemMinisters>{{cite web|url=http://www.libdems.org.uk/ministers_detail.aspx?name=The_Rt_Hon_Lord_McNally&pPK=0a2d987b-8711-498f-bb52-9f5038ee3dd0|title=The Rt Hon Lord McNally - Ministry of Justice, Minister of State (and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords)|author=|website=The Liberal Democrats|date=|accessdate=1 July 2013}}</ref>
He later worked for the [[Fabian Society]], and then as a full-time employee of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], becoming its international secretary.<ref>{{cite news |author=United Kingdom |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/27080.stm |title=BBC Democracy Live: Lord McNally biography |work=BBC News |access-date=25 July 2016 |archive-date=25 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725220932/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/27080.stm |url-status=dead }}</ref> He served as a [[political advisor]] to [[Foreign Secretary]], [[James Callaghan]] during the [[Cyprus conflict|conflict]] in [[Cyprus]] in the 1970s, before becoming head of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]'s [[10 Downing Street|political office]] at [[Downing Street]] in 1976 when Callaghan succeeded [[Harold Wilson]].<ref name=LibDemMinisters>{{cite web|url=http://www.libdems.org.uk/ministers_detail.aspx?name=The_Rt_Hon_Lord_McNally&pPK=0a2d987b-8711-498f-bb52-9f5038ee3dd0|title=The Rt Hon Lord McNally - Ministry of Justice, Minister of State (and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords)|website=The Liberal Democrats|access-date=1 July 2013|archive-date=12 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512061043/http://www.libdems.org.uk/ministers_detail.aspx%3Fname%3DThe_Rt_Hon_Lord_McNally%26pPK%3D0a2d987b-8711-498f-bb52-9f5038ee3dd0|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==
Elected to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] in [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]] as a member of the Labour Party for the constituency of [[Stockport South (UK Parliament constituency)|Stockport South]], in 1981 he was one of the later defectors to the new [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]]. Following constituency boundary changes for the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]] McNally was the SDP candidate for the new constituency of [[Stockport (UK Parliament constituency)|Stockport]], but finished in third place behind Labour and the Conservative victor, [[Tony Favell]].
Elected to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] in [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]] as a member of the Labour Party for the constituency of [[Stockport South]], in 1981 he was one of the later defectors to the new [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]] (SDP). Following constituency boundary changes for the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]] McNally was the SDP candidate for the new constituency of [[Stockport (UK Parliament constituency)|Stockport]], but finished in third place behind Labour and the Conservative victor, [[Tony Favell]].


From 1993 he was Head of Public Affairs at Shandwick Consultants, and later non-executive Vice-Chairman of its successor [[Weber Shandwick]].<ref name=LibDemMinisters />
From 1993 he was Head of Public Affairs at Shandwick Consultants, and later non-executive vice-chairman of its successor [[Weber Shandwick]].<ref name=LibDemMinisters />


On 18 November 1995 it was announced McNally would receive a [[life peerage]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=54217 |supp=y|page=15659|date=18 November 1995}}</ref> The [[Letters Patent]] were issued on 20 December and he took the title '''Baron McNally''', of [[Blackpool]] in the County of [[Lancashire]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=54252|page=17450|date=28 December 1995}}</ref>
On 18 November 1995 it was announced McNally would receive a [[life peerage]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=54217 |supp=y|page=15659|date=18 November 1995}}</ref> The [[Letters Patent]] were issued on 20 December and he took the title '''Baron McNally''', of [[Blackpool]] in the County of [[Lancashire]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=54252|page=17450|date=28 December 1995}}</ref>


After being elected unopposed to succeed [[Baroness Williams of Crosby]], he took office as Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords at the beginning of the 2004/05 session of Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article391535.ece |title=Dire election prophecies fail to make my flesh creep |publisher=Timesonline.co.uk |date= |accessdate=25 July 2016}}</ref>
After being elected unopposed to succeed [[Baroness Williams of Crosby]], he took office as Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords at the beginning of the 2004/05 session of Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article391535.ece |title=Dire election prophecies fail to make my flesh creep |publisher=Timesonline.co.uk |access-date=25 July 2016 |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501054613/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In January 2006, McNally was linked to the resignation of [[Charles Kennedy]] as leader of the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], with critical comments regarding Kennedy's leadership of the party, and the effect that infighting was having on their electoral prospects in the upcoming [[2006 United Kingdom local elections|local elections in May]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} McNally criticised Kennedy, suggesting that his style and content were lacklustre.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} Also in January 2006, McNally revealed in an interview that he had himself been [[Alcohol dependency|alcohol dependent]] in the 1980s.<ref name="bbc4633970">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4633970.stm |title=Lib Dem Lord's alcohol confession |work=BBC News |date=21 January 2006 |accessdate=25 July 2016}}</ref> He said, "I don't think the passing of a more boozy, ill-disciplined, ill-researched type of politics is to be regretted at all."<ref name="bbc4633970" />
In January 2006, McNally was linked to the resignation of [[Charles Kennedy]] as leader of the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], with critical comments regarding Kennedy's leadership of the party, and the effect that infighting was having on their electoral prospects in the upcoming [[2006 United Kingdom local elections|local elections in May]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} McNally criticised Kennedy, suggesting that his style and content were lacklustre.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} Also in January 2006, McNally revealed in an interview that he had himself been [[Alcohol dependency|alcohol dependent]] in the 1980s.<ref name="bbc4633970">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4633970.stm |title=Lib Dem Lord's alcohol confession |work=BBC News |date=21 January 2006 |access-date=25 July 2016 |archive-date=7 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307120700/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4633970.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> He said, "I don't think the passing of a more boozy, ill-disciplined, ill-researched type of politics is to be regretted at all."<ref name="bbc4633970" />


He has been President of the Stockport Liberal Democrat Constituency Party since 2007. In May 2010, following the formation of the [[Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government]], Lord McNally was appointed [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice]], under [[Kenneth Clarke]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Lee |last=Glendinning |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/13/full-list-of-new-cabinet-ministers |title=Full list of new cabinet ministers and other government appointments |newspaper=The Guardian |location= London |date=13 May 2010 |accessdate=25 July 2016}}</ref>
He has been President of the Stockport Liberal Democrat Constituency Party since 2007. In May 2010, following the formation of the [[Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government]], Lord McNally was appointed [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice]], under [[Kenneth Clarke]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Lee |last=Glendinning |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/13/full-list-of-new-cabinet-ministers |title=Full list of new cabinet ministers and other government appointments |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=13 May 2010 |access-date=25 July 2016 |archive-date=27 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527230137/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/13/full-list-of-new-cabinet-ministers |url-status=live }}</ref>


In 2012 McNally justified the absence of an official [[pardon]] of [[mathematician]] [[Alan Turing]] on [[indecency]] charges, saying that Turing was rightly prosecuted under the UK's 1950s laws.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ellis |first=Philip |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/philip-ellis/alan-turing-100-birthday-happy-100th-birthday-alan_b_1613829.html |title=Happy 100th Birthday, Alan Turing |publisher=Huffingtonpost.co.uk |date= |accessdate=25 July 2016}}</ref>
In 2012 McNally justified the absence of an official [[pardon]] of [[mathematician]] [[Alan Turing]] on [[indecency]] charges, saying that Turing was rightly prosecuted under the UK's 1950s laws.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ellis |first=Philip |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/philip-ellis/alan-turing-100-birthday-happy-100th-birthday-alan_b_1613829.html |title=Happy 100th Birthday, Alan Turing |date=22 June 2012 |publisher=Huffingtonpost.co.uk |access-date=25 July 2016 |archive-date=9 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809225106/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/philip-ellis/alan-turing-100-birthday-happy-100th-birthday-alan_b_1613829.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


On 2 October 2013, Lord McNally announced he would be stepping down as leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, saying it had been "an enormous privilege to serve as Leader of a Group which, by its discipline and cohesiveness has constantly punched above its weight".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libdemvoice.org/tom-mcnally-to-stand-down-as-leader-of-the-lib-dem-lords-36491.html |title=Tom McNally to stand down as Leader of the Lib Dem Lords |publisher=Libdemvoice.org |date= |accessdate=25 July 2016}}</ref>
On 2 October 2013, Lord McNally announced he would be stepping down as leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, saying it had been "an enormous privilege to serve as Leader of a Group which, by its discipline and cohesiveness has constantly punched above its weight".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.libdemvoice.org/tom-mcnally-to-stand-down-as-leader-of-the-lib-dem-lords-36491.html |title=Tom McNally to stand down as Leader of the Lib Dem Lords |publisher=Libdemvoice.org |access-date=25 July 2016 |archive-date=30 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530104608/http://www.libdemvoice.org/tom-mcnally-to-stand-down-as-leader-of-the-lib-dem-lords-36491.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


Lord McNally resigned as Minister of State for Justice on 18 December 2013 following his appointment as Chair of the [[Youth Justice Board]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-changes-december-2013 |title=Ministerial changes: December 2013 |date=18 December 2013 |accessdate=18 December 2013 |work=www.gov.uk}}</ref> He is a Vice-President of the [[The Debating Group|Debating Group]].<ref name="Debating Group website">{{cite web |url=http://debatinggroup.org.uk |title=Debating Group |publisher=Debating Group |date=24 March 2014 |accessdate=25 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405041029/http://debatinggroup.org.uk/ |archivedate=5 April 2015 }}</ref>
Lord McNally resigned as Minister of State for Justice on 18 December 2013 following his appointment as Chair of the [[Youth Justice Board]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-changes-december-2013 |title=Ministerial changes: December 2013 |date=18 December 2013 |access-date=18 December 2013 |work=www.gov.uk |archive-date=19 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219031603/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-changes-december-2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> He is a vice-president of the [[The Debating Group|Debating Group]].<ref name="Debating Group website">{{cite web |url=http://debatinggroup.org.uk |title=Debating Group |publisher=Debating Group |date=24 March 2014 |access-date=25 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405041029/http://debatinggroup.org.uk/ |archive-date=5 April 2015 }}</ref>


==Family==
==Family==
Line 80: Line 92:


==References==
==References==
{{More footnotes|date=March 2016}}
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}


Line 87: Line 98:


{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}

{{s-gov|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Marcia Falkender, Baroness Falkender|Marcia Falkender]]}}
{{s-ttl
|title =[[Political Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Political Secretary to the Prime Minister]]
|years=1976–1979}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Richard Ryder, Baron Ryder of Wensum|Richard Ryder]]}}

{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{S-bef| before = [[Maurice Orbach]] }}
{{S-bef| before = [[Maurice Orbach]] }}
{{s-ttl
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Stockport South (UK Parliament constituency)|Stockport South]]
| title = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Stockport South]]
| years = [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]]–[[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]
| years = [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]]–[[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]
}}
}}
{{s-non | reason = Constituency abolished }}
{{s-non | reason = Constituency abolished }}

{{s-off}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Philip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings Heath|The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Philip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings Heath|The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the House of Lords|Deputy Leader of the House of Lords]]|years=2010–2013}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the House of Lords|Deputy Leader of the House of Lords]]|years=2010–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness|The Lord Wallace of Tankerness]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[The Lord Wallace of Tankerness]]}}

{{s-ppo}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{succession box|title=Secretary of the International Department of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]|years=1969&ndash;1974|before=[[Gwyn Morgan (civil servant)|Gwyn Morgan]]|after=Jenny Little}}
{{S-bef| before=[[Shirley Williams]] }}
{{S-bef| before=[[Shirley Williams]] }}
{{s-ttl
{{s-ttl
Line 104: Line 126:
| years=2004–2013
| years=2004–2013
}}
}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness|Jim Wallace]]}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Jim Wallace]]}}

{{s-prec|uk}}
{{s-prec|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Baron Wallace of Saltaire|The Lord Wallace of Saltaire]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Baron Wallace of Saltaire|The Lord Wallace of Saltaire]]}}
Line 111: Line 134:
{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}


{{Political Secretary to the Prime Minister}}
{{UK Liberal Democrats}}
{{UK Liberal Democrats}}
{{Current Liberal Democrat Peers}}
{{Current Liberal Democrat Peers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcnally, Tom}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcnally, Tom}}
Line 125: Line 148:
[[Category:UK MPs 1979–1983]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1979–1983]]
[[Category:British people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:British people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:British Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:English Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]]

Latest revision as of 04:20, 27 September 2024

The Lord McNally
Official portrait, 2020
Chairman of the Youth Justice Board
In office
March 2014 – March 2017
Appointed byChris Grayling
Preceded byFrances Done
Succeeded byCharlie Taylor [1]
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
In office
13 May 2010 – 15 October 2013
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
LeaderThe Lord Strathclyde
The Lord Hill of Oareford
Preceded byLord Hunt of Kings Heath
Succeeded byLord Wallace of Tankerness
Minister of State for Justice
In office
13 May 2010 – 18 December 2013
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byMichael Wills
Succeeded bySimon Hughes
Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
In office
24 November 2004 – 15 October 2013
LeaderCharles Kennedy
Sir Menzies Campbell
Vince Cable (acting)
Nick Clegg
Preceded byThe Baroness Williams of Crosby
Succeeded byLord Wallace of Tankerness
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
9 January 1996
Life Peerage
Member of Parliament
for Stockport South
In office
3 May 1979 – 13 May 1983
Preceded byMaurice Orbach
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Political Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office
1976–1979
Prime MinisterJames Callaghan
Preceded byMarcia Falkender
Succeeded byRichard Ryder
Personal details
Born (1943-02-20) 20 February 1943 (age 81)
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour (until 1981)
SDP (1981–1988)
Liberal Democrats (1988–present)
Alma materUniversity College London

Thomas McNally, Baron McNally, PC (born 20 February 1943) is a British politician and a former Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords.

Early life

[edit]

McNally was born in Blackpool. A Catholic of Irish descent, he attended St Joseph's College, Blackpool. He later attended University College London, where he was elected president of the Debating Society as well as Students' Union President.[citation needed]

Professional career

[edit]

He later worked for the Fabian Society, and then as a full-time employee of the Labour Party, becoming its international secretary.[2] He served as a political advisor to Foreign Secretary, James Callaghan during the conflict in Cyprus in the 1970s, before becoming head of the Prime Minister's political office at Downing Street in 1976 when Callaghan succeeded Harold Wilson.[3]

Political career

[edit]

Elected to the House of Commons in 1979 as a member of the Labour Party for the constituency of Stockport South, in 1981 he was one of the later defectors to the new Social Democratic Party (SDP). Following constituency boundary changes for the 1983 general election McNally was the SDP candidate for the new constituency of Stockport, but finished in third place behind Labour and the Conservative victor, Tony Favell.

From 1993 he was Head of Public Affairs at Shandwick Consultants, and later non-executive vice-chairman of its successor Weber Shandwick.[3]

On 18 November 1995 it was announced McNally would receive a life peerage.[4] The Letters Patent were issued on 20 December and he took the title Baron McNally, of Blackpool in the County of Lancashire.[5]

After being elected unopposed to succeed Baroness Williams of Crosby, he took office as Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords at the beginning of the 2004/05 session of Parliament.[6]

In January 2006, McNally was linked to the resignation of Charles Kennedy as leader of the Liberal Democrats, with critical comments regarding Kennedy's leadership of the party, and the effect that infighting was having on their electoral prospects in the upcoming local elections in May.[citation needed] McNally criticised Kennedy, suggesting that his style and content were lacklustre.[citation needed] Also in January 2006, McNally revealed in an interview that he had himself been alcohol dependent in the 1980s.[7] He said, "I don't think the passing of a more boozy, ill-disciplined, ill-researched type of politics is to be regretted at all."[7]

He has been President of the Stockport Liberal Democrat Constituency Party since 2007. In May 2010, following the formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government, Lord McNally was appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, under Kenneth Clarke.[8]

In 2012 McNally justified the absence of an official pardon of mathematician Alan Turing on indecency charges, saying that Turing was rightly prosecuted under the UK's 1950s laws.[9]

On 2 October 2013, Lord McNally announced he would be stepping down as leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, saying it had been "an enormous privilege to serve as Leader of a Group which, by its discipline and cohesiveness has constantly punched above its weight".[10]

Lord McNally resigned as Minister of State for Justice on 18 December 2013 following his appointment as Chair of the Youth Justice Board.[11] He is a vice-president of the Debating Group.[12]

Family

[edit]

Lord McNally is married with two sons and one daughter.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Youth Justice Board website". Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  2. ^ United Kingdom. "BBC Democracy Live: Lord McNally biography". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "The Rt Hon Lord McNally - Ministry of Justice, Minister of State (and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords)". The Liberal Democrats. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  4. ^ "No. 54217". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 November 1995. p. 15659.
  5. ^ "No. 54252". The London Gazette. 28 December 1995. p. 17450.
  6. ^ "Dire election prophecies fail to make my flesh creep". Timesonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Lib Dem Lord's alcohol confession". BBC News. 21 January 2006. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  8. ^ Glendinning, Lee (13 May 2010). "Full list of new cabinet ministers and other government appointments". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  9. ^ Ellis, Philip (22 June 2012). "Happy 100th Birthday, Alan Turing". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Tom McNally to stand down as Leader of the Lib Dem Lords". Libdemvoice.org. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Ministerial changes: December 2013". www.gov.uk. 18 December 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Debating Group". Debating Group. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
[edit]
Government offices
Preceded by Political Secretary to the Prime Minister
1976–1979
Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Stockport South
19791983
Constituency abolished
Political offices
Preceded by Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
2010–2013
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Secretary of the International Department of the Labour Party
1969–1974
Succeeded by
Jenny Little
Preceded by Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
2004–2013
Succeeded by
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by Gentlemen
Baron McNally
Followed by