Christopher Beazley
Encyclopedia
Christopher John Pridham Beazley (born 5 September 1952 in Bexhill-on-Sea
, East Sussex
) is a British
politician for the Conservative Party
, who served as a Member of the European Parliament
1984–1994 and 1999–2009.
, and earned a BA
in History at Bristol University in 1974. From 1974 to 1976, he worked at the Bank of England
, then as a teacher 1976–1983 and as a research officer at Sussex University 1983–1984. He has since been a consultant and writer on European affairs.
, serving alongside his father Peter Beazley
, who was the MEP for Bedfordshire South
. From 1999 to 2009, he was the MEP for the East of England
. He was a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
.
He has been the Conservative spokesman on Culture and Education, Regional Development, Home Affairs and Justice, and Constitutional Affairs.
A centrist conservative, he has been vice-chairman of the Conservative Group for Europe, and has criticized the UK Conservative Party of leaving the European People's Party group. A few months before he left the European Parliament in 2009
, he became a full member of the European People’s Party, despite the UK conservative party's plans to withdraw from their parliament group, stating that "I cannot watch and say nothing while the Tories walk away from their allies, friends and colleagues in Europe."
Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea is a town and seaside resort in the county of East Sussex, in the south of England, within the District of Rother. It has a population of approximately 40,000...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
) 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 for 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...
, who served as a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
1984–1994 and 1999–2009.
Background
He is the son of Peter BeazleyPeter Beazley
Peter George Beazley CBE was a British businessman and politician, who worked for Imperial Chemical Industries for over thirty years...
, and earned a BA
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 History at Bristol University in 1974. From 1974 to 1976, he worked at the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
, then as a teacher 1976–1983 and as a research officer at Sussex University 1983–1984. He has since been a consultant and writer on European affairs.
Political career
From 1984 to 1994 he was the MEP for Cornwall and PlymouthCornwall and Plymouth (European Parliament constituency)
Cornwall and Plymouth was a European Parliament constituency covering Cornwall and Plymouth in England.Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales...
, serving alongside his father Peter Beazley
Peter Beazley
Peter George Beazley CBE was a British businessman and politician, who worked for Imperial Chemical Industries for over thirty years...
, who was the MEP for Bedfordshire South
Bedfordshire South (European Parliament constituency)
Bedfordshire South was a constituency of the European Parliament located in the United Kingdom, electing one Member of the European Parliament by the first-past-the-post electoral system...
. From 1999 to 2009, he was the MEP for the East of England
East of England (European Parliament constituency)
East of England is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 7 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
. He was a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Foreign Affairs (EU)
The Committee on Foreign Affairs , previously called Political Affairs, is a committee of the European Parliament...
.
He has been the Conservative spokesman on Culture and Education, Regional Development, Home Affairs and Justice, and Constitutional Affairs.
A centrist conservative, he has been vice-chairman of the Conservative Group for Europe, and has criticized the UK Conservative Party of leaving the European People's Party group. A few months before he left the European Parliament in 2009
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
, he became a full member of the European People’s Party, despite the UK conservative party's plans to withdraw from their parliament group, stating that "I cannot watch and say nothing while the Tories walk away from their allies, friends and colleagues in Europe."
Quote
- Who would we join with? Some sort of mish-mash of mavericks who have no power at home domestically?, on the Conservative Party leaving the European People's Party.
- "Europe is no more divided, but we are still divided by our experience."
–Christopher Beazley, Prague, June 2008, in his speech at the conference "Conscience of Europe and Communism" (Svědomí Evropy a komunismus) closing with the Prague DeclarationPrague DeclarationPrague declaration is a term used for several declarations signed in Prague, Czech Republic.* 2009 – Prague Declaration of Principles - a document containing the founding principles of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament...
(Pražská deklarace)