Phillip Oppenheim
Encyclopedia
The Honourable Phillip Arthur Charles Lawrence Oppenheim (born 20 March 1956) is a British businessman and former politician.
, London
, he is the son of former Conservative government minister Sally Oppenheim. Before entering the House of Commons, he was a businessman, founding an information technology company which was sold to Reed Elsevier
.
He was unexpectedly elected with the largest swing in the 1983 election
as the Conservative
Member of Parliament for the one time safe-Labour coal mining seat, Amber Valley
, which he represented from 1983 until electoral defeat in the 1997 general election
by Labour's Judy Mallaber
.
During his time in Parliament, he served in various ministerial posts in the governments of Margaret Thatcher
and John Major
and was also the parliamentary aide to Kenneth Clarke
, the former Chancellor
. While in parliament, he was known for strong free-market and socially-liberal views, as well for being a strong supporter of animal welfare issues and an opponent of fox hunting. As a Treasury
minister, he toughened restrictions on imports of endangered species and introduced tax breaks on less-polluting fuels including LPG. As a trade minister, he resisted efforts by the fur lobby to loosen restrictions on imports of trapped fur. He was also in favour of an elected House of Lords
. An expert on trade policy, he wrote two award-winning books (The New Masters in 1990 and Trade Wars in 1992) attacking US
and European protectionism against both Japan
and Third World countries, a policy he blamed in part for poverty in the developing world.
Following 1997, he was a columnist for The Sunday Times
and other newspapers, attacking both new Labour's spin culture, along with what he saw as the corrupt sale of peerages, and his own party for their rightward drift.
He is now a motivational speaker and businessman and is managing director of the Cubana bar and restaurant that includes Fidel Castro
as a shareholder.
His recent venture is EmployersFriend.com, an online HR resource. He is also director of Waterloo Quarter, a business alliance regenerating Waterloo, trades with Cuba
, importing rum and coffee and runs Carnival de Cuba, a large, annual Cuban carnival in London. He entered the British blogosphere launching the Party Political Animal blog which he co-edits with the Tory Radio editor Jonathan Sheppard.
Life
Born in LambethLambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he is the son of former Conservative government minister Sally Oppenheim. Before entering the House of Commons, he was a businessman, founding an information technology company which was sold to Reed Elsevier
Reed Elsevier
Reed Elsevier is a publisher and information provider operating in the science, medical, legal, risk and business sectors. It is listed on several of the world's major stock exchanges. It is a FTSE 100 and FT500 Global company...
.
He was unexpectedly elected with the largest swing in the 1983 election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
as the 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...
Member of Parliament for the one time safe-Labour coal mining seat, Amber Valley
Amber Valley (UK Parliament constituency)
Amber Valley is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system. It is a marginal constituency between the Conservative and Labour parties...
, which he represented from 1983 until electoral defeat in 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...
by Labour's Judy Mallaber
Judy Mallaber
Clare Judith Mallaber known as Judy Mallaber is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Amber Valley from 1997 to 2010.- Early life :She went to the North London Collegiate School....
.
During his time in Parliament, he served in various ministerial posts in the governments of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
and John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
and was also the parliamentary aide to Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Harry "Ken" Clarke, QC, MP is a British Conservative politician, currently Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He was first elected to Parliament in 1970; and appointed a minister in Edward Heath's government, in 1972, and is one of...
, the former Chancellor
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
. While in parliament, he was known for strong free-market and socially-liberal views, as well for being a strong supporter of animal welfare issues and an opponent of fox hunting. As a Treasury
HM Treasury
HM 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...
minister, he toughened restrictions on imports of endangered species and introduced tax breaks on less-polluting fuels including LPG. As a trade minister, he resisted efforts by the fur lobby to loosen restrictions on imports of trapped fur. He was also in favour of an elected House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. An expert on trade policy, he wrote two award-winning books (The New Masters in 1990 and Trade Wars in 1992) attacking US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and European protectionism against both Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Third World countries, a policy he blamed in part for poverty in the developing world.
Following 1997, he was a columnist for The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
and other newspapers, attacking both new Labour's spin culture, along with what he saw as the corrupt sale of peerages, and his own party for their rightward drift.
He is now a motivational speaker and businessman and is managing director of the Cubana bar and restaurant that includes Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
as a shareholder.
His recent venture is EmployersFriend.com, an online HR resource. He is also director of Waterloo Quarter, a business alliance regenerating Waterloo, trades with Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, importing rum and coffee and runs Carnival de Cuba, a large, annual Cuban carnival in London. He entered the British blogosphere launching the Party Political Animal blog which he co-edits with the Tory Radio editor Jonathan Sheppard.
External links
- http://www.speakers-uk.com/view.phtml?id=287
- http://www.cubana.co.uk
- http://www.employersfriend.com