Chris Clarke (politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir
Christopher James Clarke OBE
(24 March 1941 – 15 December 2009), usually known as Chris Clarke, was a British
Liberal Democrat politician
, leader of Somerset County Council
and of his party's group in the Local Government Association
.
, where he was educated at Westcliff High School for Boys
, Clarke first entered politics as an SDP
councillor in Richmondshire
, North Yorkshire
, before moving to Somerset
where he worked for the shoe manufacturer Clarks. He was elected to Mendip District Council
, rising to become its leader for four years. He was also elected to Somerset County Council
, serving as member for the City of Wells
from 1985 to 2005 and leading the county council from 1993 to 2001. He was then leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Local Government Association
from 2001 to 2005.
In 2005 Clarke moved from Somerset to Gloucestershire
to marry Liz, settling at Tibberton
and standing unsuccessfully for Gloucestershire County Council. He went on to become Chairman of the South West Region of Arts Council England
and of the NHS South Gloucestershire Trust Board, a Specialist Adviser to the Department for Communities and Local Government
, and implementation manager at the Improvement and Development Agency
. He was also a board member of the Stroud Theatre and the Somerset Arts Partnership and worked as a consultant
as Director of Word on the Street Ltd.
On 15 October 2007, Clarke intervened in a Liberal Democrat Party leadership crisis, appearing on BBC TV
's World at One with Menzies Campbell
's deputy Vince Cable. Cable conceded that Campbell's position was "certainly under discussion", adding "I don't think it's under threat", but Clarke advised Campbell to "go with dignity and go back to being foreign affairs spokesman, where the world listens to you." Later the same day came an announcement by the party that Campbell would step down as leader.
In May 2009, in defence of a former Somerset County Council colleague accused by its chief executive of bullying, Clarke offered to give evidence to the Adjudication Panel for England
to the effect that there was a 'culture of bullying' within the county council. The affair was debated in the House of Commons on 21 April 2009.
Following his death in December 2009, his obituary
in the Western Daily Press
noted that Clarke "was famous for his dry sense of humour", while his LGA colleague Richard Kemp said of him
"for services to Local Government and to the community in South West England". In the Birthday Honours List of June 2005 he received a knighthood "for services to Local Government".
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
Christopher James Clarke OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(24 March 1941 – 15 December 2009), usually known as Chris Clarke, was 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...
Liberal Democrat politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, leader of Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council is the county council of Somerset in the South West of England, an elected local government authority responsible for the most significant local government services in most of the county.-Area covered:...
and of his party's group in the Local Government Association
Local Government Association
The Local Government Association is a voluntary lobbying organisation acting as the voice of the local government sector in England and Wales, which seeks to be an authoritative and effective advocate on its behalf....
.
Life
Originally from EssexEssex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, where he was educated at Westcliff High School for Boys
Westcliff High School for Boys
Westcliff High School for Boys is a selective academy grammar school for boys aged 11 to 18 in Westcliff-on-Sea, near Southend-on-Sea, Essex and surrounding areas. In September 2001 the school was awarded "Beacon" status for its breadth of achievements and quality of work...
, Clarke first entered politics as an 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...
councillor in Richmondshire
Richmondshire
Richmondshire is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. It covers a large northern area of the Yorkshire Dales including Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, Wensleydale and Coverdale, with the prominent Scots' Dyke and Scotch Corner along the centre. Teesdale lies to the north...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, before moving to Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
where he worked for the shoe manufacturer Clarks. He was elected to Mendip District Council
Mendip
Mendip is a local government district of Somerset in England. The Mendip district covers a largely rural area of ranging from the Mendip Hills through on to the Somerset Levels. It has a population of approximately 110,000...
, rising to become its leader for four years. He was also elected to Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council is the county council of Somerset in the South West of England, an elected local government authority responsible for the most significant local government services in most of the county.-Area covered:...
, serving as member for the City of Wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
from 1985 to 2005 and leading the county council from 1993 to 2001. He was then leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Local Government Association
Local Government Association
The Local Government Association is a voluntary lobbying organisation acting as the voice of the local government sector in England and Wales, which seeks to be an authoritative and effective advocate on its behalf....
from 2001 to 2005.
In 2005 Clarke moved from Somerset to Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
to marry Liz, settling at Tibberton
Tibberton, Gloucestershire
Tibberton is located from Gloucester. The current population of Tibberton is approximately 650. Tibberton is a parish of in an area with 248 households. The local primary school is Tibberton Community Primary School with roughly 110 pupils....
and standing unsuccessfully for Gloucestershire County Council. He went on to become Chairman of the South West Region of Arts Council England
Arts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
and of the NHS South Gloucestershire Trust Board, a Specialist Adviser to the Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Communities and Local Government
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England. It was established in May 2006 and is the successor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, established in 2001...
, and implementation manager at the Improvement and Development Agency
Improvement and Development Agency
Local Government Improvement and Development is one of the six bodies that form the Local Government Group overseen by the Local Government Association in England and Wales...
. He was also a board member of the Stroud Theatre and the Somerset Arts Partnership and worked as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
as Director of Word on the Street Ltd.
On 15 October 2007, Clarke intervened in a Liberal Democrat Party leadership crisis, appearing on BBC TV
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
's World at One with Menzies Campbell
Menzies Campbell
Sir Walter Menzies "Ming" Campbell, CBE, QC, MP is a British Liberal Democrat politician and advocate, and a retired sprinter. He is the Member of Parliament for North East Fife, and was the Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2 March 2006 until 15 October 2007.Campbell held the British record...
's deputy Vince Cable. Cable conceded that Campbell's position was "certainly under discussion", adding "I don't think it's under threat", but Clarke advised Campbell to "go with dignity and go back to being foreign affairs spokesman, where the world listens to you." Later the same day came an announcement by the party that Campbell would step down as leader.
In May 2009, in defence of a former Somerset County Council colleague accused by its chief executive of bullying, Clarke offered to give evidence to the Adjudication Panel for England
Adjudication Panel for England
The Adjudication Panel for England was an independent judicial tribunal set up under the Local Government Act 2000. It was a Non-departmental public body which ruled on complaints referred to it by the Standards Board for England regarding alleged breaches of English local authorities' codes of...
to the effect that there was a 'culture of bullying' within the county council. The affair was debated in the House of Commons on 21 April 2009.
Following his death in December 2009, his obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
in the Western Daily Press
Western Daily Press
The Western Daily Press is a regional newspaper covering parts of South West England , mainly Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset as well as the metropolitan areas of Bath and North East Somerset and the Bristol area. It is published Monday to Saturday in Bristol, UK...
noted that Clarke "was famous for his dry sense of humour", while his LGA colleague Richard Kemp said of him
Honours
In June 2000, Clarke was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
"for services to Local Government and to the community in South West England". In the Birthday Honours List of June 2005 he received a knighthood "for services to Local Government".