Richard I Harrington
Encyclopedia
Richard I. Harrington (4 November 1957) is a British Conservative Party
politician, businessman, and former property developer and hotelier. Since the 2010 general election he has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Watford
. He is also a non-executive director of Harvington properties and was a treasurer of the Conservative Party.
to a British Jewish
family, and educated at Leeds Grammar School
and Keble College, Oxford, where he studied Jurisprudence. While at Oxford, he sat on the Executive Board of the Federation of Conservative Students
and was a member of the National Union Executive of the Party. He began his career in business with a graduate scheme at the John Lewis Partnership
, where he eventually became the assistant to the managing director of Waitrose
after a long stint at Trewins in Watford.
-owned site in Wales, which was demolished to make way for 750 homes. He remains a shareholder and non-executive director of Harvington.
In 1990, Harrington became a shareholder and managing director of a company active in the development, sales and management of holiday resorts in both the UK and Europe. The company was sold to a listed American company at the end of the decade. Harrington stayed on as chairman until 2000. When he left, the company employed more than 2,000 people.
Other business activities included the restoration of one of Glasgow’s most famous hotels, One Devonshire Gardens
. He is also a significant shareholder and non-executive director of Eden Financial, a wealth management business in the City of London.
Harrington has been a trustee of the Variety Club Children’s Society. He is a governor of University College School
in Hampstead, and is a trustee of several children’s charities.
. Until March 2010 he was chairman of the Executive Board of the Conservative Friends of Israel
, which, during his tenure, had quadrupled in size financially. He was appointed a treasurer of the Conservative Party in 2008, the role in which he launched the Number 10 Club with Sir John Major
.
Harrington won the Watford constituency
from Claire Ward
at the 2010 general election. He was the first of the 2010 intake to make his maiden speech
.
In June 2010 Richard was elected as General Secretary of the All Party Kashmir Group, Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Film Group, and a member of the International Development Select Committee.
funding for homeopathy
, the motion was sponsored by Conservative MP David Tredinnick
.
- present
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, businessman, and former property developer and hotelier. Since the 2010 general election he has been 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 Watford
Watford (UK Parliament constituency)
Watford is a parliamentary 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 system of election...
. He is also a non-executive director of Harvington properties and was a treasurer of the Conservative Party.
Early life
Harrington was born on 4 November 1957 in LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
to a British Jewish
British Jews
British Jews are Jews who live in, or are citizens of, the United Kingdom. In the 2001 Census, 266,740 people listed their religion as Jewish. The UK is home to the second largest Jewish population in Europe, and has the fifth largest Jewish community worldwide...
family, and educated at Leeds Grammar School
Leeds Grammar School
Leeds Grammar School was an independent school in Leeds established in 1552. In August 2005 it merged with Leeds Girls' High School to form The Grammar School at Leeds. The two schools physically united in September 2008....
and Keble College, Oxford, where he studied Jurisprudence. While at Oxford, he sat on the Executive Board of the Federation of Conservative Students
Federation of Conservative Students
The Federation of Conservative Students was the student organisation of the British Conservative Party from the late 1940s to 1986. It was created to act as a bridge between the student movement and the Conservative Party....
and was a member of the National Union Executive of the Party. He began his career in business with a graduate scheme at the John Lewis Partnership
John Lewis Partnership
The John Lewis Partnership is an employee-owned UK partnership which operates John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets and a number of other services...
, where he eventually became the assistant to the managing director of Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
after a long stint at Trewins in Watford.
Career
In 1983 he founded Harvington Properties, a property development company, with Stephen Massey and Paul Fitter. The company expanded through the decade and took on a number of projects, including the redevelopment of a National PowerNational Power
- History :National Power was formed following the privatisation of the UK electricity market in 1990. In England and Wales the Central Electricity Generating Board, which was responsible for the generation and transmission of electricity was split into three generating companies Powergen, National...
-owned site in Wales, which was demolished to make way for 750 homes. He remains a shareholder and non-executive director of Harvington.
In 1990, Harrington became a shareholder and managing director of a company active in the development, sales and management of holiday resorts in both the UK and Europe. The company was sold to a listed American company at the end of the decade. Harrington stayed on as chairman until 2000. When he left, the company employed more than 2,000 people.
Other business activities included the restoration of one of Glasgow’s most famous hotels, One Devonshire Gardens
One Devonshire Gardens
One Devonshire Gardens , is a luxury hotel located in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland. It is well-known for its celebrity guests, including George Clooney, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie and Jon Bon Jovi...
. He is also a significant shareholder and non-executive director of Eden Financial, a wealth management business in the City of London.
Harrington has been a trustee of the Variety Club Children’s Society. He is a governor of University College School
University College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
in Hampstead, and is a trustee of several children’s charities.
Politics
Harrington is a long-time member of the Conservative Party, in which he has played an active part since 1983, and supporter of Kenneth ClarkeKenneth 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...
. Until March 2010 he was chairman of the Executive Board of the Conservative Friends of Israel
Conservative Friends of Israel
Conservative Friends of Israel, abbreviated to CFI, is a British parliamentary group affiliated to the Conservative Party and dedicated to strengthening business, cultural and political ties between the United Kingdom and Israel. CFI is an unincorporated associationIt was founded by the late...
, which, during his tenure, had quadrupled in size financially. He was appointed a treasurer of the Conservative Party in 2008, the role in which he launched the Number 10 Club with Sir 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...
.
Harrington won the Watford constituency
Watford (UK Parliament constituency)
Watford is a parliamentary 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 system of election...
from Claire Ward
Claire Ward
Claire Margaret Ward is a British Labour Party politician. She served as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Watford from 1997 to 2010, and was a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice from 2009 to 2010....
at the 2010 general election. He was the first of the 2010 intake to make his maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
.
In June 2010 Richard was elected as General Secretary of the All Party Kashmir Group, Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Film Group, and a member of the International Development Select Committee.
Alternative medicine
In June 2010 he supported and signed an early day motion in support of the continuation of National Health ServiceNational Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
funding for homeopathy
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
, the motion was sponsored by Conservative MP David Tredinnick
David Tredinnick (politician)
David Arthur Stephen Tredinnick is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom.He is a former officer in the Grenadier Guards and is Member of Parliament for Bosworth first elected in 1987....
.
Personal life
He lives primarily in St Johns Wood, with his wife of 26 years, Jessie, and their two sons James and Daniel.External links
- Richard Harrington MP constituency website
- Richard for Watford campaign website
- Richard Harrington profile at Conservatives.com
- Richard Harrington for Watford MyConservatives.com campaign page
- Watford Conservatives
- Parliamentary voting record at The Public Whip
- Profile at TheyWorkForYouTheyWorkForYouTheyWorkForYou is a website run by mySociety, a project of registered charity UK Citizens Online Democracy, and is a tool for political campaigners and those interested in the Parliamentary activities of UK MPs, Lords, and Northern Ireland MLAs....
- Electoral history and profile at The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
- Profile at BBCBBCThe 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...
Democracy Live - Profile at Westminster Parliamentary Record
- The Register of Members' Financial Interests, House of Commons Publications, at 6 September 2010
- present