David Young, Baron Young of Graffham
Encyclopedia
David Ivor Young, Baron Young of Graffham, PC
DL
(born 27 February 1932) is a British Conservative
politician and businessman.
in Finchley
and then University College London
to take a law degree as an evening student during his time as an articled clerk to become a solicitor
, being admitted to the roll of solicitors in 1955.
. In 1961 he left GUS and set up his first business, Eldonwall Ltd with funding from the Gestetner Family Settlements. During the sixties he built up a group of companies in industrial property, construction and plant hire, selling out in June 1970 to Town & City Properties PLC and joined the board. After the property crash of 1973/4 he assisted Jeffery Sterling
(later Lord Sterling) to reverse his company into T&CP to form a group that later became P&O
. In 1975 he left the board and entered into a joint venture with Manufacturers Hanover, and became Chairman of Manufacturers Hanover Property Services, lending on real estate in the United Kingdom and overseas. He also had a number of other commercial interests. He sold out all his commercial interests in 1980 upon entering the Department of Industry. His younger brother Stuart Young
served as Chairman of the BBC
.
, became a member of the Management Board of the Centre for Policy Studies
, a 'think-tank' founded by Margaret Thatcher
; he was made a Director of the CPS in 1979 shortly after the general election
that brought Mrs Thatcher to power. On the first day of the new government, Keith Joseph
, the Secretary of State for Industry appointed him his advisor responsible for what later became known as privatisation.
Because of his involvement with vocational training through ORT
, he was picked by Norman Tebbit
when he was Secretary of State for Employment to be the Chairman of the Manpower Services Commission
in 1981, the Government Agency dealing with unemployment and training matters. As such he became involved in government decisions and the Cabinet ministers who dealt with him regarded him very positively; he made his position as a 'dry' on economic policy. He received a life peerage as Baron Young of Graffham, of Graffham in the County of West Sussex
on 10 August 1984. One month later, on 11 September it was announced that Young was to enter the cabinet as Minister without Portfolio
(the first for twenty years) to advise the government on unemployment issues. On 2 September 1985 he became Secretary of State for Employment
.
, in effect to keep an eye on Norman Tebbit whom she suspected to be more interested in advancing his claims on the leadership. He was in charge of organising Mrs Thatcher's tours and appearances on television. One week before polling day on 4 June 1987, Young and Tebbit had a major disagreement about the campaign strategy, a day nicknamed 'Wobbly Thursday'. It is claimed that Young grabbed Tebbit by the lapels and said "Norman, listen to me, we are about to lose this fucking election".
. He was a somewhat stiff figure in public whom Private Eye
nicknamed 'Lord Suit'. He served two years in the role and privatised the last of the state industries in the department. In May 1989 he told the Prime Minister he would like to return to private life. He resigned from the Cabinet in 1989 but received an appointment as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party to help Kenneth Baker reorganise Central Office and stood down on the resignation of Margaret Thatcher.
and from 1995 was Chairman of Council of University College, London. Young was the first President of Jewish Care
(1990–1997).
He retired from Cable & Wireless in 1995 and in 1996 he set up his own company, Young Associates Ltd, with two partners Simon Alberga and Yoav Kurtzbard, that actively invests in technology companies. Outside Young Associates he has a number of business interests. He is Chairman and controlling shareholder of the Camcon Federation of companies, a Cambridge based federation of companies with innovative technology in the Oil and Gas, Auto and Medical fields. He is controlling shareholder and on the board of TSSI Systems Ltd, a long established company in security technology and in both these companies he works with Danny Chapchal. He is a substantial shareholder and Chairman of Deep Tek Ltd a company with developed technology to enable operations in deep and ultra deep waters in the Oil and Gas sectors and in scientific exploration. He is a substantial shareholder and Chairman of KashFlow Software Ltd, a leading provider of online accounting for SMEs.
and of the Jewish Museum and Trustee of the Co-Existence Trust and the MBI Al Jaber Foundation. In December 2010, he also became a Patron of Lifelites, the charity providing technology for children in hospices.
to review health and safety laws:
In October, he was appointed Enterprise Advisor to the Prime Minister and asked to conduct a "brutal" review of the relationship of government to small firms.
In November 2010, David Young was obliged to apologise for having told the Daily Telegraph that, "For the vast majority of people in the country today, they have never had it so good ever since this recession - this so-called recession - started..."
He later resigned. The government later abandoned the "we are all in this together" line.
In October 2010, he released a review of workplace health and safety in the UK "Common Sense Common Safety", which faces many of the issues and saying that businesses now operate their health and safety policies in a climate of fear because sensible health and safety rules that apply to hazardous occupations have been applied across all occupations and the excessive "enthusiasm with which often unqualified health and safety consultants have tried to eliminate all risk rather than apply the test in the Act of a ‘reasonably practicable’ approach."
He said that part of the responsibility lay with the EU's 1989 Framework Directive, which made risk assessments compulsory across all occupations, whether hazardous or not. Within days of the release of the review, all health and safety stories in the press ceased.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(born 27 February 1932) is a British Conservative
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...
politician and businessman.
Early life
Young is the elder son of a businessman who imported flour and later set up as a manufacturer of coats for children. He went to Christ's CollegeChrist's College Finchley
Christ's College is a state comprehensive secondary school in East Finchley, London, United Kingdom. It falls under the London Borough of Barnet Local Education Authority. It is a boys' school up to and including Year 11, and the sixth form is mixed, admitting up to 25% girls. The school presently...
in Finchley
Finchley
Finchley is a district in Barnet in north London, England. Finchley is on high ground, about north of Charing Cross. It formed an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, becoming a municipal borough in 1933, and has formed part of Greater London since 1965...
and then University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
to take a law degree as an evening student during his time as an articled clerk to become a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, being admitted to the roll of solicitors in 1955.
Business career
However, he only practised for a year, after which he joined the Great Universal Stores Ltd, as an executive, working for part of that time as an assistant to the Chairman, Sir Isaac Wolfson BtIsaac Wolfson
Sir Isaac Wolfson, 1st Baronet FRS was a businessman and philanthropist. He was managing director of Great Universal Stores 1932-1947 and chairman 1947-1987. He established the Wolfson Foundation to distribute most of his fortune to good causes. Great Universal Stores was a mail order business...
. In 1961 he left GUS and set up his first business, Eldonwall Ltd with funding from the Gestetner Family Settlements. During the sixties he built up a group of companies in industrial property, construction and plant hire, selling out in June 1970 to Town & City Properties PLC and joined the board. After the property crash of 1973/4 he assisted Jeffery Sterling
Jeffrey Sterling, Baron Sterling of Plaistow
Jeffrey Sterling, Baron Sterling of Plaistow, GCVO, CBE , is a British businessman. He was executive chairman of the shipping line P&O from 1983 to 2005, having joined the board as a non-executive Director on 6 February 1980...
(later Lord Sterling) to reverse his company into T&CP to form a group that later became P&O
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
. In 1975 he left the board and entered into a joint venture with Manufacturers Hanover, and became Chairman of Manufacturers Hanover Property Services, lending on real estate in the United Kingdom and overseas. He also had a number of other commercial interests. He sold out all his commercial interests in 1980 upon entering the Department of Industry. His younger brother Stuart Young
Stuart Young (1934-1986)
Stuart Young was an English business executive and accountant.Stuart was the brother of a former UK cabinet minister David Young, Baron Young of Graffham. He succeeded George Howard as the chairman of the BBC board of governors in 1983 and remained in this role until his early death from cancer...
served as Chairman of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Political career
Young became involved in voluntary organisations, as Chairman of the British Organization for Rehabilitation by Training in 1975 and President from 1980 to 1982; he was Chairman of the International Council of Jewish Social and Welfare Services from 1981. In 1977 Young, an active ConservativeConservative 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...
, became a member of the Management Board of the Centre for Policy Studies
Centre for Policy Studies
The Centre for Policy Studies is a British right wing policy think tank whose goal is to promote coherent and practical public policy, to roll back the state, reform public services, support communities, and challenge threats to Britain’s independence...
, a 'think-tank' founded by Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
; he was made a Director of the CPS in 1979 shortly after the general election
United Kingdom general election, 1979
The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats...
that brought Mrs Thatcher to power. On the first day of the new government, Keith Joseph
Keith Joseph
Keith St John Joseph, Baron Joseph, Bt, CH, PC , was a British barrister and politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under three Prime Ministers , and is widely regarded to have been the "power behind the throne" in the creation of what came to be known as...
, the Secretary of State for Industry appointed him his advisor responsible for what later became known as privatisation.
Because of his involvement with vocational training through ORT
World ORT
World ORT is a non-profit non-governmental organization whose mission is the advancement of Jewish and other people through training and education, with past and present activities in over 100 countries....
, he was picked by Norman Tebbit
Norman Tebbit
Norman Beresford Tebbit, Baron Tebbit, CH, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 1981 to 1987 as Secretary of State for Employment...
when he was Secretary of State for Employment to be the Chairman of the Manpower Services Commission
Manpower Services Commission
The Manpower Services Commission was a non-departmental public body of the Department of Employment Group in the United Kingdom created by Edward Heath's Conservative Government in 1973. The MSC had a remit to co-ordinate employment and training services in the UK through a ten-member commission...
in 1981, the Government Agency dealing with unemployment and training matters. As such he became involved in government decisions and the Cabinet ministers who dealt with him regarded him very positively; he made his position as a 'dry' on economic policy. He received a life peerage as Baron Young of Graffham, of Graffham in the County of West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
on 10 August 1984. One month later, on 11 September it was announced that Young was to enter the cabinet as Minister without Portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
(the first for twenty years) to advise the government on unemployment issues. On 2 September 1985 he became Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Employment
The Secretary of State for Employment was a position in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. In 1995 it was merged with Secretary of State for Education to make the Secretary of State for Education and Employment...
.
1987 election
Mrs Thatcher regarded Young as personally loyal to her and decided in March 1987 to put him into a central role in planning the 1987 election campaignUnited 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 effect to keep an eye on Norman Tebbit whom she suspected to be more interested in advancing his claims on the leadership. He was in charge of organising Mrs Thatcher's tours and appearances on television. One week before polling day on 4 June 1987, Young and Tebbit had a major disagreement about the campaign strategy, a day nicknamed 'Wobbly Thursday'. It is claimed that Young grabbed Tebbit by the lapels and said "Norman, listen to me, we are about to lose this fucking election".
Trade and Industry
After the election, Tebbit announced his retirement from the government and Young was promoted to Secretary of State for Trade and IndustrySecretary of State for Trade and Industry
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills is a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. Its secondary title is the President of the Board of Trade...
. He was a somewhat stiff figure in public whom Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
nicknamed 'Lord Suit'. He served two years in the role and privatised the last of the state industries in the department. In May 1989 he told the Prime Minister he would like to return to private life. He resigned from the Cabinet in 1989 but received an appointment as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party to help Kenneth Baker reorganise Central Office and stood down on the resignation of Margaret Thatcher.
Later business career
Young then went back to business as a Director of Salomon Inc. and Executive Chairman of Cable and Wireless. From 1993 he was President of the Institute of DirectorsInstitute of Directors
The Institute of Directors is a UK-based organisation, established in 1903 and incorporated by royal charter in 1906 to support, represent and set standards for company directors...
and from 1995 was Chairman of Council of University College, London. Young was the first President of Jewish Care
Jewish Care
Jewish Care is a British charity, working mainly in London and South East England, providing health and social welfare support services for vulnerable members of the Jewish community. Tony Blair, when he was British Prime Minister, said of the charity: "Jewish Care is not just Jewish values in...
(1990–1997).
He retired from Cable & Wireless in 1995 and in 1996 he set up his own company, Young Associates Ltd, with two partners Simon Alberga and Yoav Kurtzbard, that actively invests in technology companies. Outside Young Associates he has a number of business interests. He is Chairman and controlling shareholder of the Camcon Federation of companies, a Cambridge based federation of companies with innovative technology in the Oil and Gas, Auto and Medical fields. He is controlling shareholder and on the board of TSSI Systems Ltd, a long established company in security technology and in both these companies he works with Danny Chapchal. He is a substantial shareholder and Chairman of Deep Tek Ltd a company with developed technology to enable operations in deep and ultra deep waters in the Oil and Gas sectors and in scientific exploration. He is a substantial shareholder and Chairman of KashFlow Software Ltd, a leading provider of online accounting for SMEs.
Charity interests
He also has a number of pro bono or charitable interests including the Presidency of Chai Cancer Care and the Coram Trust, Chairman of the Chichester Festival TheatreChichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre, located in Chichester, England, was designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, and opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Martin in 1962. Subsequently the smaller and more intimate Minerva Theatre was built nearby in 1989....
and of the Jewish Museum and Trustee of the Co-Existence Trust and the MBI Al Jaber Foundation. In December 2010, he also became a Patron of Lifelites, the charity providing technology for children in hospices.
2010 coalition government
In June 2010, Young was appointed advisor to the Prime Minister by the coalition governmentUnited Kingdom coalition government (2010–present)
The ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition is the present Government of the United Kingdom, formed after the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats entered into discussions which culminated in the 2010 coalition agreement, setting out a programme for government...
to review health and safety laws:
- "To investigate and report back to the Prime Minister on the rise of the compensation culture over the last decade coupled with the current low standing that health and safety legislation now enjoys and to suggest solutions. Following the agreement of the report, to work with appropriate departments across government to bring the proposals into effect." See report 'Common Sense Common Safety' below. In July, he moved from the Cabinet Office to Number 10.
In October, he was appointed Enterprise Advisor to the Prime Minister and asked to conduct a "brutal" review of the relationship of government to small firms.
In November 2010, David Young was obliged to apologise for having told the Daily Telegraph that, "For the vast majority of people in the country today, they have never had it so good ever since this recession - this so-called recession - started..."
He later resigned. The government later abandoned the "we are all in this together" line.
Publications
Young's political autobiography, The Enterprise Years, was published in 1990.In October 2010, he released a review of workplace health and safety in the UK "Common Sense Common Safety", which faces many of the issues and saying that businesses now operate their health and safety policies in a climate of fear because sensible health and safety rules that apply to hazardous occupations have been applied across all occupations and the excessive "enthusiasm with which often unqualified health and safety consultants have tried to eliminate all risk rather than apply the test in the Act of a ‘reasonably practicable’ approach."
He said that part of the responsibility lay with the EU's 1989 Framework Directive, which made risk assessments compulsory across all occupations, whether hazardous or not. Within days of the release of the review, all health and safety stories in the press ceased.