Ben Stoneham, Baron Stoneham of Droxford
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Russell Mackintosh Stoneham, Baron Stoneham of Droxford (born 28 August 1948) is a British peer, journalist, and politician.
Stoneham's early politics were Labour
. At the age of 29 he was Labour candidate in the Saffron Walden by-election
of 1977. He was later treasurer of the moderate Campaign for Labour Victory
, many of whose leading lights later joined the SDP
. Stoneham was the SDP candidate for Parliament in Stevenage
in 1983
and 1987
. In 1983, he had the best finish by any non-incumbent SDP candidate in an English seat and narrowly lost by about 1,700 votes.
In 2004
, he stood for election in Denmead
, Winchester
, and in 2010
he stood for election in Bishops Waltham, Winchester
.
He is a senior party activist for the Liberal Democratic
party.
From 2003 to 2010, he was operations director of the party, under the leadership of Charles Kennedy
, and Nick Clegg
.
He was made a life peer on 17 January 2011 as Baron Stoneham of Droxford, of Meon Valley in the County of Hampshire.
He gave his maiden speech on 20 January 2011.
to reveal details of a super-injunction during a debate in the House of Lords. He questioned whether a super-injunction prevented bank regulators from investigating corporate governance at the Royal Bank of Scotland
:
Stoneham's early politics were Labour
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...
. At the age of 29 he was Labour candidate in the Saffron Walden by-election
Saffron Walden by-election, 1977
The Saffron Walden by-election of July 1977 was held after the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Sir Peter Kirk on 16 April that year. The Conservatives held on to the seat in the by-election.-Results:-External links:**...
of 1977. He was later treasurer of the moderate Campaign for Labour Victory
Campaign for Democratic Socialism
The Campaign for Democratic Socialism or CDS was an organization of the British Labour Party, serving as a pressure group representing the right wing of the party...
, many of whose leading lights later joined 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...
. Stoneham was the SDP candidate for Parliament in Stevenage
Stevenage (UK Parliament constituency)
Stevenage is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
in 1983
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
and 1987
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
. In 1983, he had the best finish by any non-incumbent SDP candidate in an English seat and narrowly lost by about 1,700 votes.
In 2004
Winchester Council election, 2004
The 2004 Winchester Council election took place on 10 June 2004 to elect members of Winchester District Council in Hampshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats lost overall control of the council to no overall control.After the election, the composition...
, he stood for election in Denmead
Denmead
Denmead is a village in Hampshire, England. It is part of the City of Winchester district. As of 2005, it had a population of 6,457 and an electorate of 4,987....
, Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, and in 2010
Winchester Council election, 2010
The 2010 Winchester Council election took place on 6 May 2010 to elect members of Winchester District Council in Hampshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats gained overall control of the council from the Conservative party.After the election, the...
he stood for election in Bishops Waltham, Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
.
He is a senior party activist for the Liberal Democratic
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
party.
From 2003 to 2010, he was operations director of the party, under the leadership of Charles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
, and Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
.
He was made a life peer on 17 January 2011 as Baron Stoneham of Droxford, of Meon Valley in the County of Hampshire.
He gave his maiden speech on 20 January 2011.
Super-injunction statement
Lord Stoneham came to prominence on 19 May 2011 when used parliamentary privilegeParliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
to reveal details of a super-injunction during a debate in the House of Lords. He questioned whether a super-injunction prevented bank regulators from investigating corporate governance at the Royal Bank of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is a British banking and insurance holding company in which the UK Government holds an 84% stake. This stake is held and managed through UK Financial Investments Limited, whose voting rights are limited to 75% in order for the bank to retain its listing on the...
:
External links
- "Lord exposes Sir Fred Goodwin super-injunction in Parliament", The Telegraph, 19 May 2011