Brian Cotter, Baron Cotter
Encyclopedia
Brian Joseph Michael Cotter, Baron Cotter (born 24 August 1938) is a politician in the United Kingdom
. He was Liberal Democrat
Member of Parliament
for Weston-super-Mare
, from the 1997 election
until 2005
.
, the son of a doctor from Weston-super-Mare
, he was educated at Downside School
in Somerset, where at age sixteen he ran a 4½ minute mile. On leaving school he entered the British Army
, serving two years National Service
, spending time stationed in Germany
. He entered business after the Army, after studying Business Studies at a polytechnic in London, eventually running his own small manufacturing company, Plasticable Ltd in Alton
, which is now run as a co-operative.
for Weston-super-Mare
not from the Conservative Party
since 1923. He fought the same seat in 1992. He was re-elected in 2001, but the seat was won by John Penrose (Conservative) in the 2005 election. Throughout his time in Parliament he served as Small Business Spokesman for the Liberal Democrats.
In April 2006, it was announced that Cotter would be created a life peer
to join the Liberal Democrat ranks in the House of Lords
, and on 30 May he was created Baron Cotter, of Congresbury in the County of Somerset. He delivered his maiden speech in the Lords on 29 June.
He takes an interest in a number of areas, and on various issues as they arise. Specifically before the coalition government he led for the liberal democrats on Small Business issues and vocational education specifically apprenticeships. Within the coalition he still follows the business and vocational training issues
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...
. He was Liberal Democrat
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...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare (UK Parliament constituency)
Weston-super-Mare is a 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:...
, from the 1997 election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
until 2005
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
.
Early life
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the son of a doctor from Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
, he was educated at Downside School
Downside School
Downside School is a co-educational Catholic independent school for children aged 11 to 18, located in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, between Norton Radstock and Shepton Mallet in Somerset, south west England. It is attached to Downside Abbey...
in Somerset, where at age sixteen he ran a 4½ minute mile. On leaving school he entered the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, serving two years National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, spending time stationed in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He entered business after the Army, after studying Business Studies at a polytechnic in London, eventually running his own small manufacturing company, Plasticable Ltd in Alton
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
, which is now run as a co-operative.
Parliamentary career
In 1997, he was elected as the first Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare (UK Parliament constituency)
Weston-super-Mare is a 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:...
not from the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
since 1923. He fought the same seat in 1992. He was re-elected in 2001, but the seat was won by John Penrose (Conservative) in the 2005 election. Throughout his time in Parliament he served as Small Business Spokesman for the Liberal Democrats.
In April 2006, it was announced that Cotter would be 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...
to join the Liberal Democrat ranks in 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 on 30 May he was created Baron Cotter, of Congresbury in the County of Somerset. He delivered his maiden speech in the Lords on 29 June.
He takes an interest in a number of areas, and on various issues as they arise. Specifically before the coalition government he led for the liberal democrats on Small Business issues and vocational education specifically apprenticeships. Within the coalition he still follows the business and vocational training issues