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{{Infobox Politician
{{Infobox politician
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = The Lord Roper
| name = The Lord Roper
| honorific-suffix = [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|PC]]
| honorific-suffix = [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|PC]]
| image =
| image =
| birthname = John Francis Hodgess Roper
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|09|10}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|09|10}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|01|29|1935|09|10}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|01|29|1935|09|10}}
| order1 = [[Liberal Democrats Chief Whip#Liberal Democrats 2|House of Lords Chief Whip, Liberal Democrats]]
| order1 = [[Liberal Democrats Chief Whip#Liberal Democrats 2|House of Lords Chief Whip, Liberal Democrats]]
| term_start1 = 7 June 2001
| term_start1 = 7 June 2001
Line 33: Line 34:
}}
}}


'''John Francis Hodgess Roper, Baron Roper''' [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|PC]] (10 September 1935 – 29 January 2016),<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-35443826 | title= Ex-Liberal Democrat chief whip Lord Roper dies aged 80| publisher=[[BBC]] | date= 29 January 2016| accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref> was a British politician.
'''John Francis Hodgess Roper, Baron Roper''' [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|PC]] (10 September 1935 – 29 January 2016),<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-35443826|title=Ex-Liberal Democrat chief whip Lord Roper dies aged 80|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=29 January 2016|accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref> was a British politician.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Roper was educated at [[William Hulme's Grammar School]] ([[Manchester]]), [[Reading School]], [[Magdalen College, Oxford]] (studying [[Philosophy, Politics and Economics|PPE]]) and the [[University of Chicago]]. He began his career as an [[economics]] lecturer at the [[University of Manchester]].
Roper was educated at [[William Hulme's Grammar School]] ([[Manchester]]), [[Reading School]], [[Magdalen College, Oxford]] (studying [[Philosophy, Politics and Economics|PPE]]) and the [[University of Chicago]]. He began his career as an [[economics]] lecturer at the [[University of Manchester]].{{cn}}


==Political career==
==Political career==
{{unsourced|section}}
⚫
Roper first stood for Parliament for [[High Peak (UK Parliament constituency)|High Peak]] as a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] candidate in [[United Kingdom general election, 1964|1964]]. He was elected [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Farnworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Farnworth]] in [[United Kingdom general election, 1970|1970]]. He sat as a [[Labour Co-operative]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]] (1970–81) and for the [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]] (SDP) from 1981 to 1983, when he was also the party's [[Chief Whip]]. His Farnworth seat was subsequently abolished, and he contested [[Worsley (UK Parliament constituency)|Worsley]] in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983 general election]], finishing third in a three-way marginal.
Roper first stood for Parliament for [[High Peak (UK Parliament constituency)|High Peak]] as a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] candidate in [[United Kingdom general election, 1964|1964]]. He was elected [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Farnworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Farnworth]] in [[United Kingdom general election, 1970|1970]].

⚫
He sat as a [[Labour Co-operative]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]] (1970–81) and for the [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]] (SDP) from 1981 to 1983, when he was also the party's [[Chief Whip]]. His Farnworth seat was subsequently abolished, and he contested [[Worsley (UK Parliament constituency)|Worsley]] in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983 general election]], finishing third in a three-way marginal.


==House of Lords==
==House of Lords==
On 12 May 2000 he was created a [[Life peer]] as '''Baron Roper''', of [[Thorney Island (London)|Thorney Island]] in the [[City of Westminster]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55850 |date=17 May 2000 |startpage=5419}}</ref> He was the [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] Chief Whip in the [[House of Lords]] until 2005. He was subsequently appointed to the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]. In 2008, he was elected Principal Deputy [[Chairman of Committees (House of Lords)|Chairman of Committees]]. He retired from the House of Lords on 23 May 2015.<ref>http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/retired-lords/ Retired members of the House of Lords</ref>
On 12 May 2000 he was created a [[Life peer]] as '''Baron Roper''', of [[Thorney Island (London)|Thorney Island]] in the [[City of Westminster]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55850 |date=17 May 2000 |startpage=5419}}</ref> He was the [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] Chief Whip in the [[House of Lords]] until 2005. He was subsequently appointed to the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]. In 2008, he was elected Principal Deputy [[Chairman of Committees (House of Lords)|Chairman of Committees]]. He retired from the House of Lords on 23 May 2015.<ref>http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/retired-lords Profile], parliament.uk; accessed 29 January 2016.</ref>


===Stasi allegations===
===Stasi allegations===
Roper was controversially accused by [[Anthony Glees]] of having been a [[Stasi]] "[[espionage|agent]] of some influence" during his time at [[Chatham House]].<ref>[http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,991533,00.html "History on the rack"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', July 5, 2003</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol47no4/article09.html"The Intelligence Officer's Bookshelf"] by Hayden B. Peake, ''[[Central Intelligence Agency]]'', April 14, 2007</ref> Lord Roper rejected the charge indignantly. He related that he was engaged in building bridges with East Germany in the 1980s as part of a Foreign Office-approved policy of thawing relations.
Roper was accused by [[Anthony Glees]] of having been a [[Stasi]] "[[espionage|agent]] of some influence" during his time at [[Chatham House]].<ref>[http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,991533,00.html "History on the rack"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 5 July 2003.</ref><ref>Hayden B. Peake, [https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol47no4/article09.html"The Intelligence Officer's Bookshelf"], ''[[Central Intelligence Agency]]'', 14 April 2007.</ref>


"He was deceived, he says, about the background of an undercover Stasi officer he employed as a research fellow when he was director of studies at Chatham House." <ref>[http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/artsandhumanities/story/0,,975079,00.html "The history men fall out over tales of spying, betrayal and buffoonery"] by David Leigh, ''[[The Guardian]]'', June 11, 2003</ref>
Roper rejected the charges and related that he was engaged in building bridges with East Germany in the 1980s as part of a Foreign Office-approved policy of thawing relations. "He was deceived, he says, about the background of an undercover Stasi officer he employed as a research fellow when he was director of studies at Chatham House".<ref>David Leigh, [http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/artsandhumanities/story/0,,975079,00.html "The history men fall out over tales of spying, betrayal and buffoonery"] by David Leigh, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 11 June 2003.</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
==External links==
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-john-roper | John Roper }}
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-john-roper | John Roper }}
*[http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/mr-lord-roper.html Lord Roper] profile at the site of Liberal Democrats
*[http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/mr-lord-roper.html Lord Roper] profile at the site of Liberal Democrats
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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Roper, John}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roper, John Roper, Baron}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]

Revision as of 03:11, 30 January 2016

The Right Honourable
The Lord Roper
PC
House of Lords Chief Whip, Liberal Democrats
In office
7 June 2001 – 5 May 2005
LeaderCharles Kennedy
Preceded byJohn Harris, Baron Harris of Greenwich
Succeeded byDavid Shutt, Baron Shutt of Greetland
Director, Institute for Security Studies of Western European Union
In office
April 1990 – September 1995
Chief Whip, Social Democrat Party
In office
26 March 1981 – 9 June 1983
LeaderRoy Jenkins
Preceded byOffice Created
Succeeded byJohn Cartwright
Member of Parliament
for Farnworth
In office
18 June 1970 – 9 June 1983
Preceded byErnest Thornton
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born
John Francis Hodgess Roper

(1935-09-10)September 10, 1935
DiedJanuary 29, 2016(2016-01-29) (aged 80)
Political partyLabour Co-operative (1970-81); Social Democratic Party (1981-88); Liberal Democrats (1988-)
Alma materMagdalen College, Oxford; University of Chicago

John Francis Hodgess Roper, Baron Roper PC (10 September 1935 – 29 January 2016),[1] was a British politician.

Early life

Roper was educated at William Hulme's Grammar School (Manchester), Reading School, Magdalen College, Oxford (studying PPE) and the University of Chicago. He began his career as an economics lecturer at the University of Manchester.[citation needed]

Political career

Roper first stood for Parliament for High Peak as a Labour candidate in 1964. He was elected Member of Parliament for Farnworth in 1970.

He sat as a Labour Co-operative MP (1970–81) and for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from 1981 to 1983, when he was also the party's Chief Whip. His Farnworth seat was subsequently abolished, and he contested Worsley in the 1983 general election, finishing third in a three-way marginal.

House of Lords

On 12 May 2000 he was created a Life peer as Baron Roper, of Thorney Island in the City of Westminster.[2] He was the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the House of Lords until 2005. He was subsequently appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. In 2008, he was elected Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees. He retired from the House of Lords on 23 May 2015.[3]

Stasi allegations

Roper was accused by Anthony Glees of having been a Stasi "agent of some influence" during his time at Chatham House.[4][5]

Roper rejected the charges and related that he was engaged in building bridges with East Germany in the 1980s as part of a Foreign Office-approved policy of thawing relations. "He was deceived, he says, about the background of an undercover Stasi officer he employed as a research fellow when he was director of studies at Chatham House".[6]

References

  1. ^ "Ex-Liberal Democrat chief whip Lord Roper dies aged 80". BBC. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  2. ^ "No. 55850". The London Gazette. 17 May 2000.
  3. ^ http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/retired-lords Profile], parliament.uk; accessed 29 January 2016.
  4. ^ "History on the rack", The Guardian, 5 July 2003.
  5. ^ Hayden B. Peake, "The Intelligence Officer's Bookshelf", Central Intelligence Agency, 14 April 2007.
  6. ^ David Leigh, "The history men fall out over tales of spying, betrayal and buffoonery" by David Leigh, The Guardian, 11 June 2003.
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Preceded by Member of Parliament for Farnworth
1970–1983 		Constituency abolished
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