Anthony Lester, Baron Lester of Herne Hill
Encyclopedia
Anthony Paul Lester, Baron Lester of Herne Hill, QC
(born July 3, 1936) is a British
politician
and member of the House of Lords
, and a member of the Liberal Democrats.
Born into a Jewish family, he was educated at the City of London School
, and then studied history and law at Trinity College, Cambridge
and Harvard Law School
. In the 1960s and 1970s Lester was directly involved with the movement to form race relations legislation in Britain. During these periods, he acted as the chair of the legal subcommittee of the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination (C.A.R.D.) and was a member of several organizations working for racial equality such as the Society of Labour Lawyers, Fabian Society
, Council of the Institute of Race Relations, British Overseas Socialist Fellowship and the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants. In 1968, he co-founded the Runnymede Trust
left-wing think-tank with Jim Rose
. He was a special advisor to Roy Jenkins
at the Home Office
in the 1970s, and moved with Jenkins from the Labour Party
to found the SDP
in 1981. He was Chairman of the Runnymede Trust from 1991 to 1993.
He was created Baron Lester of Herne Hill, of Herne Hill
in the London Borough of Southwark
in 1993. As a barrister
he works from Blackstone Chambers
. He was appointed Adjunct Professor of the Faculty of Law at University College Cork (Ireland) in 2005.
On 29 June 2007, Lord Lester was appointed by Prime Minister
Gordon Brown
as a special advisor on constitutional reform to the Secretary of State for Justice. He is a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights
.
Lester is a patron of the Family Planning Association
, previously called the National Birth Control Committee. He represented the FPA in a contentious case in Northern Ireland
where it was widely claimed that the FPA were trying to use strategic litigation to introduce liberalised abortion laws into the country.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born July 3, 1936) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, and a member of the Liberal Democrats.
Born into a Jewish family, he was educated at the City of London School
City of London School
The City of London School is a boys' independent day school on the banks of the River Thames in the City of London, England. It is the brother school of the City of London School for Girls and the co-educational City of London Freemen's School...
, and then studied history and law at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. In the 1960s and 1970s Lester was directly involved with the movement to form race relations legislation in Britain. During these periods, he acted as the chair of the legal subcommittee of the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination (C.A.R.D.) and was a member of several organizations working for racial equality such as the Society of Labour Lawyers, Fabian Society
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
, Council of the Institute of Race Relations, British Overseas Socialist Fellowship and the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants. In 1968, he co-founded the Runnymede Trust
Runnymede Trust
The Runnymede Trust is a leading pro-multiculturalism think tank., Its aim is to generate intelligence for a "multi-ethnic" Britain through research, network building and policy engagement...
left-wing think-tank with Jim Rose
Jim Rose (journalist)
Eliot Joseph Benn 'Jim' Rose was a British intelligence officer, journalist and campaigner.Born into an "elite" Jewish family, Rose was educated at Rugby School and New College, Oxford....
. He was a special advisor to Roy Jenkins
Roy Jenkins
Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in...
at the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
in the 1970s, and moved with Jenkins from the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
to found the SDP
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
in 1981. He was Chairman of the Runnymede Trust from 1991 to 1993.
He was created Baron Lester of Herne Hill, of Herne Hill
Herne Hill
Herne Hill is located in the London Borough of Lambeth and the London Borough of Southwark in Greater London. There is a road of the same name which continues the A215 north of Norwood Road and was called Herne Hill Road.-History:...
in the London Borough of Southwark
London Borough of Southwark
The London Borough of Southwark is a London borough in south east London, England. It is directly south of the River Thames and the City of London, and forms part of Inner London.-History:...
in 1993. As a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
he works from Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers is a leading set of barristers chambers in the Temple district of central London. Established in the 1950s, it has 85 tenants, of whom 34 are Silks...
. He was appointed Adjunct Professor of the Faculty of Law at University College Cork (Ireland) in 2005.
On 29 June 2007, Lord Lester was appointed by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
as a special advisor on constitutional reform to the Secretary of State for Justice. He is a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights
Joint Committee on Human Rights
The Joint Committee on Human Rights is a select committee of both the House of Commons and House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
.
Lester is a patron of the Family Planning Association
Family Planning Association
FPA is a UK registered charity working to enable people to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy sexual health. It is the national affiliate for the International Planned Parenthood Federation in the United Kingdom. It celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2010...
, previously called the National Birth Control Committee. He represented the FPA in a contentious case in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
where it was widely claimed that the FPA were trying to use strategic litigation to introduce liberalised abortion laws into the country.
External links
- Odysseus Trust - supporting the work of Anthony Lester in the House of Lords.