Lewis Moonie, Baron Moonie
Encyclopedia
Lewis George Moonie, Baron Moonie (born 25 February 1947 in Dundee) is a Labour Co-operative
politician in the United Kingdom
. He was the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Kirkcaldy
from 1987
to 2005
.
in Dundee
. He studied Medicine at the Bute Medical School
, University of St Andrews
gaining his MB ChB
in 1970. From the University of Edinburgh
he gained an MSc
in Community Medicine in 1981. He also became DPM in 1975, MRCPsych
in 1979 and MFCM
in 1984. From 1982-6, he was a councillor on Fife Regional Council.
in Psychiatry
. From 1975-80 he was a research clinical pharmacologist
and a medical advisor in the pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Edinburgh. From 1980-4, he was a trainee in Community Medicine for the Fife
Health Board, becoming a Community Medicine Specialist from 1984-7.
as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Kirkcaldy
, and served until he retired from the House of Commons at the 2005 general election
. He served as a junior minister at the Ministry of Defence
.
On 13 May 2005 it was announced that he would be created a life peer
, and on 22 June 2005 the peerage was gazetted as Baron Moonie, of Bennochy in Fife
.
In the newspaper sting, "Moonie said he would contact Healey and offered to identify people who could put down an amendment." He quoted an annual fee for his assistance of £30,000. Lord Moonie is quoted as saying “I did not agree to amend the legislation. I agreed to seek to help to find a way of trying to amend the legislation.”
The House of Lords Sub-committee on Lords' Interests was asked to report on the matter. It found that "on the standard of proof that we have set, we do not find that Lord Moonie expressed a clear willingness to breach the Code by promoting amendments on behalf of lobbyists in return for payment."
The Lords' Privileges Committee considered the sub-committee's report. It published its findings on 14th May 2009. It agreed that Lord Moonie had not breached the code.
Labour Co-operative
Labour and Co-operative describes those candidates in British elections standing on behalf of both the Labour Party and the Co-operative Party, based on a national agreement between the two parties....
politician in the United Kingdom
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 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,...
(MP) for Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy (UK Parliament constituency)
Kirkcaldy was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Fife, returning one Member of Parliament . It existed from the February 1974 election until its abolition in 2005.-Boundaries:...
from 1987
United 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...
to 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
He attended the Grove AcademyGrove Academy
Grove Academy is a secondary school in Broughty Ferry, Dundee. One of the most academically achieving schools in Scotland, Grove Academy enrolls approximately 1500 pupils, the majority of which are from Forthill, Eastern, and Barnhill primary schools...
in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
. He studied Medicine at the Bute Medical School
Bute Medical School
The University of St Andrews School of Medicine is the school of medicine at the University of St Andrews in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland; it used to be known as the 'Bute Medical School' until the 2010–2011 academic year...
, University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
gaining his MB ChB
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
in 1970. From the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
he gained an MSc
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Community Medicine in 1981. He also became DPM in 1975, MRCPsych
Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom responsible for representing psychiatrists, psychiatric research and providing public information about mental health problems...
in 1979 and MFCM
Faculty of Public Health
The Faculty of Public Health is the standard setting body for specialists in public health in the United Kingdom.The Faculty of Public Health was formed in 1972 by the three Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom .The Faculty seeks to promote public...
in 1984. From 1982-6, he was a councillor on Fife Regional Council.
Medical career
From 1973-5 he was a trainee registrarSpecialist registrar
A Specialist Registrar or SpR is a doctor in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland who is receiving advanced training in a specialist field of medicine in order eventually to become a consultant...
in Psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
. From 1975-80 he was a research clinical pharmacologist
Clinical pharmacology
Clinical pharmacology is the science of drugs and their clinical use. It is underpinned by the basic science of pharmacology, with added focus on the application of pharmacological principles and methods in the real world...
and a medical advisor in the pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Edinburgh. From 1980-4, he was a trainee in Community Medicine for the Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
Health Board, becoming a Community Medicine Specialist from 1984-7.
Parliamentary career
He was elected at the 1987 general electionUnited 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...
as 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,...
(MP) for Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy (UK Parliament constituency)
Kirkcaldy was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Fife, returning one Member of Parliament . It existed from the February 1974 election until its abolition in 2005.-Boundaries:...
, and served until he retired from the House of Commons at the 2005 general election
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....
. He served as a junior minister at the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
.
On 13 May 2005 it was announced that he 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...
, and on 22 June 2005 the peerage was gazetted as Baron Moonie, of Bennochy in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
.
The 'Cash for Influence' Scandal
In late-January 2009 the Sunday Times involved Lord Moonie in a classic 'sting operation'. Along with 3 other Labour peers, Lord Moonie was approached by a reporter. Of the 4, Lord Moonie was the only one subsequently cleared by the House of Lords Sub-committee on Lords' Interests.In the newspaper sting, "Moonie said he would contact Healey and offered to identify people who could put down an amendment." He quoted an annual fee for his assistance of £30,000. Lord Moonie is quoted as saying “I did not agree to amend the legislation. I agreed to seek to help to find a way of trying to amend the legislation.”
The House of Lords Sub-committee on Lords' Interests was asked to report on the matter. It found that "on the standard of proof that we have set, we do not find that Lord Moonie expressed a clear willingness to breach the Code by promoting amendments on behalf of lobbyists in return for payment."
The Lords' Privileges Committee considered the sub-committee's report. It published its findings on 14th May 2009. It agreed that Lord Moonie had not breached the code.