Bernard Donoughue, Baron Donoughue
Encyclopedia
Bernard Donoughue, Baron Donoughue (born 8 September 1934) is a British
politician, businessman and author.
The son of Thomas Joseph Donoughue was educated at Campbell Secondary Modern School
and Northampton Grammar School, Lincoln College, Oxford
, where he read History
and obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts
in 1957, and Nuffield College, Oxford
, where he graduated as a Doctor of Philosophy
in 1963.
Donoughue was member of the editorial staff of The Economist
in 1959 and 1960. He was senior research officer of the Political and Economic Planning Institute between 1960 and 1963, and senior lecturer, at the London School of Economics
(LSE) between 1963 and 1974. As a newly-appointed lecturer at LSE Donoughue had a remarkably youthful appearance; he looked hardly older than his students. His lectures on modern British politics were a nice mixture of scholarship, off the cuff humour, and personal reflection. A Donoughue lecture was very much a 'live' performance. In one lecture he noted (Dr Geoffrey Thomas of the philosophy department, Birkbeck College recalls) that Conservative Central Office had once employed 'a Mr J. Christ', adding : 'We all know that God is on the side of the Conservatives but it comes as a surprise that his son also worked for the party'.
In 1974, he became Senior Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister
, Harold Wilson and in 1976 his successor James Callaghan, and held this office until Labour's defeat in 1979.
From 1979 to 1981, Donoughue was Development Director of the Economist Intelligence Unit
, and in 1981 and 1982 assistant editor of The Times
until his dismissal by Rupert Murdoch
.
He was head of research and investment policy of Grieveson Grant and Co from 1982 to 1986 and head of international research and Director of Kleinwort Grieveson Securities Ltd from 1986 to 1988. Following, Donoughue was executive Vice-Chair of LBI from 1988 to 1991, Director of Towcester
Racecourse Ltd from 1992 to 1997 and is Visiting Professor of Government of LSE since 2000. Donoughue is Chairman of the Starting Price Regulatory Commission. On February 20, 2009, it was reported in The Racing Post that he had resigned a paid consultancy position with Paddy Power
Bookmakers in order to end any speculation about his impartiality in the SPRC role.
Donoughue was also Chairman of the London Symphony Orchestra
from 1979 to 1991, Patron
from 1989 to 1995, and has been an Associate
since 2000. Between 1999 and 2003, he was Consultant Member of the British Horse Industry Confederation
.
On 27 May 1985, he was created a Life Peer
as Baron Donoughue, of Ashton in the County of Northamptonshire
.
He was an Opposition Labour spokesman for Energy, Heritage and Treasury matters. In 1997, Tony Blair appointed him a Junior Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Increasingly isolated by the Minister Nick Brown and the MAFF Permanent Secretary, he chose to retire in July 1999.
Lord Donoughue was married to Carol Ruth Goodman from 1959 until their divorce in 1989. They have two sons and two daughters.
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, businessman and author.
The son of Thomas Joseph Donoughue was educated at Campbell Secondary Modern School
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
and Northampton Grammar School, Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
, where he read History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1957, and Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college and primarily a research establishment, specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics and sociology. It is a research centre in the social sciences...
, where he graduated as a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1963.
Donoughue was member of the editorial staff of The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
in 1959 and 1960. He was senior research officer of the Political and Economic Planning Institute between 1960 and 1963, and senior lecturer, at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LSE) between 1963 and 1974. As a newly-appointed lecturer at LSE Donoughue had a remarkably youthful appearance; he looked hardly older than his students. His lectures on modern British politics were a nice mixture of scholarship, off the cuff humour, and personal reflection. A Donoughue lecture was very much a 'live' performance. In one lecture he noted (Dr Geoffrey Thomas of the philosophy department, Birkbeck College recalls) that Conservative Central Office had once employed 'a Mr J. Christ', adding : 'We all know that God is on the side of the Conservatives but it comes as a surprise that his son also worked for the party'.
In 1974, he became Senior Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Harold Wilson and in 1976 his successor James Callaghan, and held this office until Labour's defeat in 1979.
From 1979 to 1981, Donoughue was Development Director of the Economist Intelligence Unit
Economist Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit is part of the Economist Group.It is a research and advisory company providing country, industry and management analysis worldwide and incorporates the former Business International Corporation, a U.S. company acquired by the parent organization in 1986...
, and in 1981 and 1982 assistant editor of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
until his dismissal by Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
.
He was head of research and investment policy of Grieveson Grant and Co from 1982 to 1986 and head of international research and Director of Kleinwort Grieveson Securities Ltd from 1986 to 1988. Following, Donoughue was executive Vice-Chair of LBI from 1988 to 1991, Director of Towcester
Towcester
Towcester , the Roman town of Lactodorum, is a small town in south Northamptonshire, England.-Etymology:Towcester comes from the Old English Tófe-ceaster. Tófe refers to the River Tove; Bosworth and Toller compare it to the "Scandinavian proper names" Tófi and Tófa...
Racecourse Ltd from 1992 to 1997 and is Visiting Professor of Government of LSE since 2000. Donoughue is Chairman of the Starting Price Regulatory Commission. On February 20, 2009, it was reported in The Racing Post that he had resigned a paid consultancy position with Paddy Power
Paddy Power
Paddy Power is Ireland’s largest bookmaker. Offline it conducts business through a chain of licensed betting offices and by operating Ireland's largest telephone betting service. Online it offers sports betting, online poker, online bingo, online casino games and spread betting...
Bookmakers in order to end any speculation about his impartiality in the SPRC role.
Donoughue was also Chairman of the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
from 1979 to 1991, Patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
from 1989 to 1995, and has been an Associate
Associate
Associate may refer to:* A business valuation concept.* A title used by some companies instead of employee.* A title used to signify an independent person working as if directly employed by the company of which they are an associate...
since 2000. Between 1999 and 2003, he was Consultant Member of the British Horse Industry Confederation
British Horse Industry Confederation
The British Horse Industry Confederation is a representative umbrella organisation for both professional and amateur involvement in equestrian activities in Great Britain. The organisation is formed of the British Equestrian Federation, the Thoroughbred Breeders Association and the British...
.
On 27 May 1985, he was created a Life Peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Donoughue, of Ashton in the County of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
.
He was an Opposition Labour spokesman for Energy, Heritage and Treasury matters. In 1997, Tony Blair appointed him a Junior Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Increasingly isolated by the Minister Nick Brown and the MAFF Permanent Secretary, he chose to retire in July 1999.
Lord Donoughue was married to Carol Ruth Goodman from 1959 until their divorce in 1989. They have two sons and two daughters.
Works
- Trade Unions in a Changing Society, (1963)
- British Politics and the American Revolution, (1964)
- Herbert Morrison, (1973)
- Prime Minister: The Conduct of Policy under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, (1987).
- The Heat of the Kitchen, an autobiography, (2003).
- Downing Street Diary: Volume 1 - With Harold Wilson in No. 10, (2004).
- Downing Street Diary: Volume 2 - With James Callaghan in No. 10, (2008). Reviewed by Alan WatkinsAlan WatkinsAlan Rhun Watkins was for over 50 years a British political columnist in various London-based magazines and newspapers...
in The Spectator