Owen Paterson
Encyclopedia
Owen William Paterson is a British Conservative Party
politician and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
. He is the Member of Parliament
(MP) for North Shropshire
.
, Shropshire
. He attended Abberley Hall
School and Radley College
, before going up to Cambridge University
, where he studied History at Corpus Christi College
and graduated in 1978. He then went on to the National Leathersellers College (now the British School of Leather Technology at the University of Northampton
).
He joined the British Leather Company in 1979, becoming Sales Director in 1983 and Managing Director from 1993 to 1999. He was President
of COTANCE, the European Tanners Confederation from 1996–1998. He was a Director of Parsons and Sons leather company in Halesowen
in the 1990s. Paterson is a Liveryman
of the Leathersellers' Company
.
Owen served on several committees. These included the Welsh Affairs 1997-2001, European Standing Committee A 1998-2001, Welsh Grand Committee 1998-2000 European Scrutiny 1999-2000, Agriculture 2000-01.
seat in the 1992 general election. He is Member of Parliament
for North Shropshire
, being first elected at the 1997 general election
and has won at all general elections there since. At each election he has significantly increased his share of the vote. At the general election 2010 Owen received 26,692 votes giving him a majority of 15,825 (an increase of over 5,000) with a 51.5% share of the vote.
Whilst generally choosing to maintain a low media profile, for March 2008, he was voted the second best Conservative MP "Media Performer"" on Iain Dale's
blog.
Owen is a passionate supporter of Royal Irish Regiment which is based in his constituency at Tern Hill and wears a green wristband backing the Regiment. This continues to show this support despite being challenged by Gerry Adams
on this matter.
He is a Eurosceptic
, with extensive knowledge of exporting to Europe
from his career in business.
. He is seen as a reliable, loyal and hardworking frontbencher.
from 2000-01
's Parliamentary Private Secretary
when he was Leaders of the Conservative Party
from 2001-03
He travelled all over the North Atlantic to produce a landmark Green Paper on Fisheries. Owen joined the crew of the Kiroan, one of the few remaining trawlers out of Fleetwood
, Lancashire, to view the fishing practices which have been created by the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. He wrote the Green Paper
"Consultation on a National Policy on Fisheries Management in U.K.Waters" Which was used by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
's Fish Fight Campaign.
from 2005-07. Whilst he was Shadow Minister for Roads, Owen he researched best practice and the latest ideas from Europe and North America.
on 2 July 2007.
While he was Shadow Secretary one of Owen's main achievements was to come to an agreement with the Ulster Unionist Party
to re-establish the traditional links which the two parties used to have (broken in 1972). This included running joint Conservative/UUP candidates for the 2009 European and 2010 general elections. Owen believed that it was vital part of the Northern Ireland Peace Process to “normalise” Northern Ireland politics by giving the electoral in Ulster a chance to vote for national parties.
News of this alliance was praised by several Conservatives, including Iain Dale and ConservativeHome
.
Jonathan Isaby of ConservativeHome wrote “it must not be underestimated how much credit is due to Owen Paterson, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, for bringing this deal about. It was over a year ago that he quietly began putting feelers out to like-minded individuals in the UUP about seriously bringing the parties closer together again. He then met UUP leader Sir Reg Empey
at the beginning of this year, after which a secret working group was established to discuss the matter further. Amazingly, this close-knit group managed to keep their negotiations secret and out of the media until deciding to float their ideas in public in July. Throughout the process Owen has been assiduously visiting Northern Ireland every week, often spending two days a week there during recesses. His commitment to what is often regarded as a minor shadow cabinet post has been total.”
in The Coalition Government
on 12 May 2010. He was created a Privy Councillor on 13 May 2010.
Since the general election Owen has:
, niece of the late Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale
and sister of Matt Ridley
. They have two sons and a daughter. Paterson speaks fluent French and German.
Paterson is a keen horse rider and racer. He has ridden across Turkmenistan
and most recently Mongolia
.
In 2008 the Daily Record
readership voted Owen one of the top ten sexiest politicians in the world.
In 2011, Paterson and his wife Rose took part in the Mongolian Derby which is the world’s longest horse race. It is a race across 1,000 kilometers of the Mongolian Steppe
in 10 days to raise money for charity. They were the oldest competitors. They raised about £50,000 for the Royal Irish Regiment Benevolent Fund, the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries and Mercy Corps
Mongolia.
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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 Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
. He is 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 North Shropshire
North Shropshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Shropshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From its first creation in 1832 to the abolition of the first creation in 1885 it elected two Knights of the Shire...
.
Early life and career
Paterson was born in WhitchurchWhitchurch, Shropshire
Whitchurch is a market town in Shropshire, England on the border between England and Wales. It is the oldest continuously inhabited town in Shropshire. According to the 2001 Census, the population of the town is 8,673, with a more recent estimate putting the population of the town at 8,934...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
. He attended Abberley Hall
Abberley Hall
Abberley Hall is a country house in the north-west of the county of Worcestershire, England. The present Italianate house is the work of Samuel Daukes and dates from 1846-49. Since 1916 it has been occupied by Abberley Hall School. It is a Grade II* listed building...
School and Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
, before going up to Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he studied History at Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
and graduated in 1978. He then went on to the National Leathersellers College (now the British School of Leather Technology at the University of Northampton
University of Northampton
The University of Northampton is a university in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.-History:In 1924, Northampton Technical College was opened at St George's Avenue, site of the current Avenue Campus. A new building for the college was formally opened by the then Duke and Duchess of York in 1932...
).
He joined the British Leather Company in 1979, becoming Sales Director in 1983 and Managing Director from 1993 to 1999. He was President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of COTANCE, the European Tanners Confederation from 1996–1998. He was a Director of Parsons and Sons leather company in Halesowen
Halesowen
Halesowen is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands, England.The population, as measured by the United Kingdom Census 2001, was 55,273...
in the 1990s. Paterson is a Liveryman
Liveryman
For Livery Companies in the City of London, a Liveryman is a full member of their respective Company.Livery Company members fall into two basic categories: Freemen and Liverymen. One may join as a Freeman, and thereby acquire the "Freedom of the Company", upon fulfilling the Company's criteria...
of the Leathersellers' Company
Worshipful Company of Leathersellers
The Worshipful Company of Leathersellers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The organisation originated in the latter part of the fourteenth century and received a Royal Charter in 1444...
.
Member of Parliament
Before becoming a frontbencherFrontbencher
In many parliaments and other similar assemblies, seating is typically arranged in banks or rows, with each political party or caucus grouped together. The spokespeople for each group will often sit at the front of their group, and are then known as being on the frontbench and are described as...
Owen served on several committees. These included the Welsh Affairs 1997-2001, European Standing Committee A 1998-2001, Welsh Grand Committee 1998-2000 European Scrutiny 1999-2000, Agriculture 2000-01.
Constituency Member of Parliament
He contested, but failed to win, the WrexhamWrexham (UK Parliament constituency)
Wrexham is a parliamentary constituency in North Wales which is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
seat in the 1992 general election. He is 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,...
for North Shropshire
North Shropshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Shropshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From its first creation in 1832 to the abolition of the first creation in 1885 it elected two Knights of the Shire...
, being first elected at the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
and has won at all general elections there since. At each election he has significantly increased his share of the vote. At the general election 2010 Owen received 26,692 votes giving him a majority of 15,825 (an increase of over 5,000) with a 51.5% share of the vote.
Whilst generally choosing to maintain a low media profile, for March 2008, he was voted the second best Conservative MP "Media Performer"" on Iain Dale's
Iain Dale
Iain Campbell Dale is best known for his conservative-minded British political blog Iain Dale's Diary and for his frequent appearances on UK news channels as a political commentator. He is also a publisher, broadcaster and former Conservative Party politician...
blog.
Owen is a passionate supporter of Royal Irish Regiment which is based in his constituency at Tern Hill and wears a green wristband backing the Regiment. This continues to show this support despite being challenged by Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
on this matter.
He is a Eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
, with extensive knowledge of exporting to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
from his career in business.
Front bench politician
Throughout his time in parliament Owen has risen steadily through the front bench ranks of the Conservative PartyConservative 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 is seen as a reliable, loyal and hardworking frontbencher.
- Peter ObornePeter ObornePeter Oborne is a British journalist and political commentator. He was educated at Sherborne School and The University of Cambridge. He is a Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph columnist, author of The Rise of Political Lying and The Triumph of the Political Class, and, with Frances Weaver, the...
comments that "Paterson possesses pretty well all the virtues any well-arranged society would look for in a Cabinet minister. He is hard-working, utterly conscientious and morally brave. Never afraid to speak his mind, he has quietly effected important changes in Northern Ireland’s political structures. Yet Paterson’s career has suffered from one crucial defect. There have been no press releases trumpeting illusory achievements. He does not leak announcements to a grateful media, publishing them instead, as propriety demands, in Parliament."
- Simon HefferSimon HefferSimon James Heffer is a British journalist, columnist and writer.-Education:Heffer was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.-Career:...
has said that Owen is a "very serious, dedicated politician".
- Tim MontgomerieTim MontgomerieTim Montgomerie is best known as the co-founder of the Centre for Social Justice and as Editor of the ConservativeHome website, and has been described as "one of the most important Conservative activists of the past 20 years"....
wrote in July 2011 that Owen is "brave, honest and incredibly hardworking. Whether it was his networking across Europe ten years ago to build allies for a post-EPP grouping (all for which he was unpaid I should stress), his diligent work to prepare an alternative to the Common Fisheries Policy when he was an agriculture spokesman or his work on roads as a member of the transport team, he's not afraid of putting in the hours. A man of the Right he's also handsome - a not important quality in electoral politics!"
- Charles MooreCharles Moore (journalist)Charles Hilary Moore is a British journalist and former editor of The Daily Telegraph.-Early life:He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge where he was awarded a BA in History and was a friend of Oliver Letwin.-Career:A former editor of The Spectator , the Sunday Telegraph and The...
in The SpectatorThe SpectatorThe Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
wrote that "in a better world, there would be a film about the life of Owen Paterson — his heroic struggles to export British manufacturing when he worked in the family leather firm, his mastery of the foot-and-mouth crisis, his insane courage as a horseman, not to mention his longstanding commitment to Northern Ireland. Owen would be played by Pierce BrosnanPierce BrosnanPierce Brendan Brosnan, OBE is an Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist. After leaving school at 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration, but trained at the Drama Centre in London for three years...
, or possibly the late Trevor HowardTrevor HowardTrevor Howard , born Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith, was an English film, stage and television actor.-Early life:...
."
Opposition Whip
Owen served as a whip under William HagueWilliam Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
from 2000-01
Parliamentary Private Secretary
Owen was Iain Duncan SmithIain 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...
's Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
when he was Leaders of the Conservative Party
Leaders of the Conservative Party
The Leader of the Conservative Party is the most senior politician within the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom. The post is currently held by David Cameron, who s eeded Michael Howard in 2005, and who since 2010 is also the serving Prime Minister....
from 2001-03
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister
Owen was a Shadow agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister from 2003-05. As agriculture spokesman Owen became an expert on bovine TB and campaigned for the dairy industry. He visited Michigan, Maryland and Washington to discuss Bovine TB Policy, writing extensively on the issue facing the UK.He travelled all over the North Atlantic to produce a landmark Green Paper on Fisheries. Owen joined the crew of the Kiroan, one of the few remaining trawlers out of Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
, Lancashire, to view the fishing practices which have been created by the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. He wrote the Green Paper
Green paper
In the Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland and the United States a green paper is a tentative government report of a proposal without any commitment to action; the first step in changing the law...
"Consultation on a National Policy on Fisheries Management in U.K.Waters" Which was used by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a British celebrity chef, television personality, journalist, food writer and "real food" campaigner, known for his back-to-basics philosophy...
's Fish Fight Campaign.
Shadow Minister for Transport
Owen previously served as Shadow Minister for TransportMinister for Transport
A Ministry of Transport is a ministry or other government agency charged with transport. It may be headed by a Minister for Transport.Specific duties may be overseeing transportation safety, developing government transportation policy, organizing public transport, and the maintenance and...
from 2005-07. Whilst he was Shadow Minister for Roads, Owen he researched best practice and the latest ideas from Europe and North America.
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
He was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandShadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is a member of the UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and his department, the Northern Ireland Office. The post is currently held by Shaun Woodward...
on 2 July 2007.
While he was Shadow Secretary one of Owen's main achievements was to come to an agreement with the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
to re-establish the traditional links which the two parties used to have (broken in 1972). This included running joint Conservative/UUP candidates for the 2009 European and 2010 general elections. Owen believed that it was vital part of the Northern Ireland Peace Process to “normalise” Northern Ireland politics by giving the electoral in Ulster a chance to vote for national parties.
News of this alliance was praised by several Conservatives, including Iain Dale and ConservativeHome
ConservativeHome
Conservative Home is a British political website started by Tim Montgomerie prior to the 2005 United Kingdom general election campaign, that aims to represent UK grassroots Conservative opinion.-Editors:...
.
Jonathan Isaby of ConservativeHome wrote “it must not be underestimated how much credit is due to Owen Paterson, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, for bringing this deal about. It was over a year ago that he quietly began putting feelers out to like-minded individuals in the UUP about seriously bringing the parties closer together again. He then met UUP leader Sir Reg Empey
Reg Empey
Reginald Norman Morgan Empey, Baron Empey of Shandon, OBE, – known as Sir Reg Empey prior to 2011 – is a former Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for East Belfast...
at the beginning of this year, after which a secret working group was established to discuss the matter further. Amazingly, this close-knit group managed to keep their negotiations secret and out of the media until deciding to float their ideas in public in July. Throughout the process Owen has been assiduously visiting Northern Ireland every week, often spending two days a week there during recesses. His commitment to what is often regarded as a minor shadow cabinet post has been total.”
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Owen Paterson was appointed as Secretary of State for Northern IrelandSecretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
in The Coalition Government
Cameron Ministry
David Cameron is Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a new government after the resignation as Prime Minister of Gordon Brown on 11 May 2010. Leading a coalition government formed by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats, the coalition...
on 12 May 2010. He was created a Privy Councillor on 13 May 2010.
Since the general election Owen has:
- Overseen the publication and delivery of the Saville Report on the events of Bloody SundayBloody Sunday (1972)Bloody Sunday —sometimes called the Bogside Massacre—was an incident on 30 January 1972 in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland, in which twenty-six unarmed civil rights protesters and bystanders were shot by soldiers of the British Army...
, the Inquiries into the murders of Rosemary NelsonRosemary NelsonRosemary Nelson was a prominent Northern Irish human rights lawyer who was killed by a loyalist paramilitary group in 1999...
, Billy WrightBilly Wright (loyalist)William Stephen "Billy" Wright was a prominent Ulster loyalist during the period of violent religious/political conflict known as "The Troubles". He joined the Ulster Volunteer Force in 1975 and became commander of its Mid-Ulster Brigade in the early 1990s...
and is overseeing the current investigation into the murder of Robert HamillRobert HamillRobert Hamill was a Catholic civilian who was beaten to death by a loyalist mob in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Hamill and his friends were attacked on 27 April 1997 on the town's main street. It has been claimed that the local Royal Ulster Constabulary , parked a short distance...
.
- Secured a financial settlement for savers in the Presbyterian Mutual SocietyPresbyterian MutualThePresbyterian Mutual Society, also known as Presbyterian Mutual is a Belfast based mutual society with around 9.500 investors, most of whom are members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland....
. His intervention has ensured that smaller savers who had invested less than £20,000 received all their money back. Those with more will receive 85%, with the other 15% dependent on the sale of PMS property and assets. He successfully got the government to provided £25m and a loan of £175m. This was in keeping with one of the Conservatives Northern Ireland manifesto pledges.
- Received an extra £200 million of funding for security in Northern Ireland to counter the rise of dissident republicanDissident republicanThe term dissident republican or anti-ceasefire republican is used to describe Irish republicans who do not support the current peace agreements in Ireland. Some dispute the validity of both parliaments on the island The term dissident republican or anti-ceasefire republican is used to describe...
terrorism.
- Worked with the TreasuryHM TreasuryHM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
to deliver his promise of a consultation on the devolution of the power to reduce the rate of Corporation Tax to Stormont. The Financial Times called it his "big idea". Owen has stated that "Rebalancing and rebuilding the economy is critical to the future prosperity of Northern Ireland and it is one of the Government’s key priorities for Northern Ireland." The Tap wrote that "It is no surprise...to find Owen at the forefront of an initiative to awake Northern Ireland from its heavily subsidised slumbers, and give it a kick, by making it into a fast paced enterprise zone, with the best corporation tax rates available in Britain. EU rules would stop this, as the subsidy to NI would need reducing by the same amount of any taxes sacrificed. But as NI has no or very few large corporations located there, the potential sacrifice of subsidy is much smaller than the potential gains to be had by attracting international investors into the province. It is rare indeed to find a government Minister offering tax breaks to business in 2010, anywhere in the world. Bravo, Owen Paterson. This is sheer bloody intelligent."
- Been prominent in driving down costs at his Ministry, the Northern Ireland OfficeNorthern Ireland OfficeThe Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
. He has scraped the use of a hired private jet which had cost the taxpayer up to £9,000 one way, instead choosing to fly on commercial public airlines when visiting Northern Ireland. He has also been cutting the NIO budget by around 25%.
- As part of his policy to "normalise" Northern Ireland politics, tried to engage with Sinn FeinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
to end their policy of absenteeism at Westminster.
- Been outspoken on the issue of integrated education in Northern Ireland. Currently 95% of Northern Ireland pupils attend a segregated school He has said segregated education was not working. He stated in October 2010 that “there's a school in Belfast with no pupils and there's a school in Belfast with more staff than pupils. That's just a criminal waste of public money. We cannot go on bearing the cost of segregation and I don't see why the British taxpayer should continue to subsidise segregation." This is all part of his “normalisation” idea.
Personal life
Paterson married the Hon. Rose Ridley in 1980. She is the daughter of Matthew Ridley, 4th Viscount RidleyMatthew Ridley, 4th Viscount Ridley
Matthew White Ridley, 4th Viscount Ridley, is a British nobleman, who served for approximately a decade as Lord Steward of the Household....
, niece of the late Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale
Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale
Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale, PC was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister.-Personal life:...
and sister of Matt Ridley
Matt Ridley
Matthew White Ridley, FRSL, FMedSci is an English journalist, writer, biologist, and businessman.-Career:...
. They have two sons and a daughter. Paterson speaks fluent French and German.
Paterson is a keen horse rider and racer. He has ridden across Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
and most recently Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
.
In 2008 the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
readership voted Owen one of the top ten sexiest politicians in the world.
Charity work
Paterson has devoted much time to fundraising for various charities.In 2011, Paterson and his wife Rose took part in the Mongolian Derby which is the world’s longest horse race. It is a race across 1,000 kilometers of the Mongolian Steppe
Mongolian-Manchurian grassland
The Mongolian-Manchurian grassland ecoregion, also known as the Mongolian-Manchurian steppe, in the temperate grassland Biome, is found in Mongolia, the Chinese Autonomous region of Inner Mongolia and northeastern China.-Setting:...
in 10 days to raise money for charity. They were the oldest competitors. They raised about £50,000 for the Royal Irish Regiment Benevolent Fund, the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries and Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a global aid agency engaged in transitional environments that have experienced some sort of shock: natural disaster, economic collapse, or conflict. People working for it move as quickly as possible from bringing in food and supplies to enabling people to rebuild their economy with...
Mongolia.
Styles
- Mr Owen Paterson (1956–97)
- Mr Owen Paterson MP (1997–2010)
- Rt HonThe Right HonourableThe Right Honourable is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and other Commonwealth Realms, and occasionally elsewhere...
Owen Paterson MP (2010– )
External links
- Owen Paterson MP official constituency website
- Profile at the Conservative Party
- Guide to new Cabinet members: Owen Paterson, BBC News, 13 May 2010
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