Gregory Barker
Encyclopedia
Gregory Leonard George "Greg" Barker (born 8 March 1966) is a British
politician
. A member of the Conservative Party
, he currently serves as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Bexhill and Battle. In May 2010 he was appointed Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change.
, Barker was educated at Upper Beeding Primary School, Steyning Grammar School
and Lancing
, before going on to Royal Holloway, University of London
, where he earned a BA (Hons)
degree in History & Politics, and the London Business School
.
He was a researcher at the Centre for Policy Studies
in 1987, before joining Gerard Vivian Gray as an Equity Analyst in 1988. In 1990, he became the Director for International Pacific Securities. He was the Deputy Chairman of Hammersmith
Conservative Association in 1993. From 1998, he was a Director of Daric pls, an advertising company.
Barker also developed strong links to the Russian oil companies, being Head of Communications at the Anglo Siberian Oil Company from 1998–2000 and also worked in Russia for the Sibneft Oil Group
, owned by Roman Abramovich
.
seat of Eccles
, where he was defeated by Ian Stewart
. Barker then became the Deputy Chairman of Tooting
Conservative Association and an advisor to Conservative MP David Willetts
.
In 2001, Barker became the MP for Bexhill and Battle after the retirement of the sitting Conservative MP, Charles Wardle
. Barker's nomination by the Conservative Party was hotly debated when sitting MP and former Home Office Minister Charles Wardle accused Barker of being disingenuous about his business career and formally requesting Conservative Party Leader Iain Duncan Smith
to investigate possible links between Barker and the infamous Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky. Wardle supported Nigel Farage
(who later became the leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party
), but Barker won the safe seat by over 10,500 votes from Stephen Hardy of the Liberal Democrats
. Close to Conservative leader David Cameron
, Barker, in his capacity as Shadow Environment Secretary
, accompanied Cameron on his trip to the Arctic Circle
in April 2006 for a fact-finding mission on global warming
.
In April 2011, Barker was filmed addressing an audience at the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina
, during which he said of the Conservative-led British government: “We are making cuts that Margaret Thatcher
, back in the 1980s, could only have dreamed of.”
Barker was implicated in the 2009 MPs' expenses scandal for his purchase and sale of London flats.
, Barker confirmed he and his wife had separated and on 26 October 2006. British tabloid newspaper the Daily Mirror revealed that he had left his wife and children for a man. The paper backed the story by quoting his mother-in-law. The Sun
reported that the man was an interior designer employed to oversee renovations on the Barkers' Peasmarsh
family home. It was later revealed that Barker was divorcing
his wife. The Independent on Sunday later reported that Barker has confirmed that he is gay.
Barker's wealth is estimated at £3.9m.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. A member of 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...
, he currently serves as the Member of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
(MP) for Bexhill and Battle. In May 2010 he was appointed Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change.
Early life
Born in SussexSussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, Barker was educated at Upper Beeding Primary School, Steyning Grammar School
Steyning Grammar School
Steyning Grammar School is a state comprehensive school in Steyning, West Sussex, England. It is the only state school in West Sussex which caters for boarders...
and Lancing
Lancing College
Lancing College is a co-educational English independent school in the British public school tradition, founded in 1848 by Nathaniel Woodard. Woodard's aim was to provide education "based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith." Lancing was the first of a...
, before going on to Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
, where he earned a BA (Hons)
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...
degree in History & Politics, and the London Business School
London Business School
London Business School is an international business school and a constituent college of the federal University of London, located in central London, beside Regent's Park...
.
He was a researcher at 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...
in 1987, before joining Gerard Vivian Gray as an Equity Analyst in 1988. In 1990, he became the Director for International Pacific Securities. He was the Deputy Chairman of Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
Conservative Association in 1993. From 1998, he was a Director of Daric pls, an advertising company.
Barker also developed strong links to the Russian oil companies, being Head of Communications at the Anglo Siberian Oil Company from 1998–2000 and also worked in Russia for the Sibneft Oil Group
Gazprom Neft
Gazprom Neft is the fifth largest oil producing and refining company in Russia. It's the oil arm of Gazprom, which owns 80% of Gazprom Neft's shares....
, owned by Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a Russian businessman and the main owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC.In 2003, Abramovich was named Person of the Year by Expert, a Russian business magazine. He shared this title with Mikhail Khodorkovsky...
.
Parliamentary career
Barker was at first unsuccessful in his attempts to be elected to Parliament when he contested the safe LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
seat of Eccles
Eccles (UK Parliament constituency)
Eccles was a parliamentary constituency of the United Kingdom, centred on the town of Eccles in Greater Manchester, England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.- History :The constituency...
, where he was defeated by Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart (Labour politician)
Ian Stewart is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Eccles from 1997 until 2010.-Early life:...
. Barker then became the Deputy Chairman of Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
Conservative Association and an advisor to Conservative MP David Willetts
David Willetts
David Linsay Willetts is a British Conservative Party politician and the Minister of State for Universities and Science. He is the Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Havant in Hampshire.-Education:...
.
In 2001, Barker became the MP for Bexhill and Battle after the retirement of the sitting Conservative MP, Charles Wardle
Charles Wardle
Charles Frederick Wardle was a Conservative Party member of the British Parliament for Bexhill and Battle.He announced he would not contest the 2001 election in early 2000 after it was disclosed that he was doing consultancy for Mohammed Al-Fayed. He was replaced by Gregory Barker in the 2001...
. Barker's nomination by the Conservative Party was hotly debated when sitting MP and former Home Office Minister Charles Wardle accused Barker of being disingenuous about his business career and formally requesting Conservative Party Leader Iain Duncan Smith
Iain Duncan Smith
George Iain Duncan Smith is a British Conservative politician. He is currently the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was previously leader of the Conservative Party from September 2001 to October 2003...
to investigate possible links between Barker and the infamous Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky. Wardle supported Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage
Nigel Paul Farage MEP , a position he previously held from September 2006 to November 2009. He is a current Member of the European Parliament for South East England and co-chairs the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group....
(who later became the leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
), but Barker won the safe seat by over 10,500 votes from Stephen Hardy of the Liberal Democrats
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...
. Close to Conservative leader David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
, Barker, in his capacity as Shadow Environment Secretary
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is a position with the Opposition's Shadow Cabinet that deals with issues surrounding the environment and food and rural affairs; if elected, the designated person is slated to become the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food...
, accompanied Cameron on his trip to the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
in April 2006 for a fact-finding mission on global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
.
In April 2011, Barker was filmed addressing an audience at the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, during which he said of the Conservative-led British government: “We are making cuts that Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, back in the 1980s, could only have dreamed of.”
Barker was implicated in the 2009 MPs' expenses scandal for his purchase and sale of London flats.
Personal life
Barker married Celeste Harrison, an heiress to the Charles Wells brewery fortune, in 1992. Following a diary report in The ObserverThe Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, Barker confirmed he and his wife had separated and on 26 October 2006. British tabloid newspaper the Daily Mirror revealed that he had left his wife and children for a man. The paper backed the story by quoting his mother-in-law. The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
reported that the man was an interior designer employed to oversee renovations on the Barkers' Peasmarsh
Peasmarsh
For other uses of Peasmarsh see Peasmarsh Peasmarsh is a village and civil parish in East Sussex in England. It is located on the A268 road between Rye and Beckley, some three miles north-west of Rye....
family home. It was later revealed that Barker was divorcing
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
his wife. The Independent on Sunday later reported that Barker has confirmed that he is gay.
Barker's wealth is estimated at £3.9m.
External links
- Gregory Barker MP Official constituency website
- MP works as hospital ward cleaner, BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, 22 June 2007