Richard Norton, 8th Baron Grantley
Encyclopedia
Richard William Brinsley Norton, 8th Baron Grantley (born 30 January 1956) is a retired banker and politician. In early life he worked for the Conservative Party
, but joined the United Kingdom Independence Party when it was founded in 1993. As Baron Grantley
, he was a member of the House of Lords
from 1995 to 2000.
, he is descended from Mary Tudor, Queen of France, and so from many kings of England, including William the Conqueror.
He was educated at Ampleforth College
in Yorkshire
and at New College, Oxford
, which he entered with an Open Scholarship in Mathematics, but graduated in Law. He was President of the Oxford Union
in 1976.
from 1977 to 1981. In 1978 he was seconded to work for the Opposition front bench in the House of Lords
. During the 1979 general election campaign
he worked in Margaret Thatcher
's Private Office. After the election, he became a special adviser for trade and energy and wrote The Benefits of Trade.
A councillor
of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
from 1982 to 1986, he was the Conservative
parliamentary candidate for the unwinnable Wentworth constituency
at the 1983 general election
.
He joined the United Kingdom Independence Party
on its foundation and became one of its early patrons. On 24 June 1995 he succeeded his father, John Norton, 7th Baron Grantley, and thus became UKIP's sole representative in Parliament. In 1996 he made his maiden speech
in the House of Lords in the presence of his maternal grandfather, the Earl of Listowel, a member of the House of Lords since 1931, a feat unlikely ever to be repeated. In 1997 he became leader of UKIP in the House of Lords. He spoke in the House on five occasions. At the time of the reforms brought about by the House of Lords Act 1999
, he did not stand for election as a continuing member, and so left the House in March 2000. He remains a member of UKIP.
In 1981 Grantley became a banker and worked as an international project financier at Morgan Grenfell, Deutsche Bank
, and HSBC
. He was a director of Morgan Grenfell International Limited and of HSBC Project and Export Finance. He was head of oil and gas project finance at both institutions, and retired in 2005.
Grantley is active in his local Residents' Association and was a patron of Save Sloane Square, which successfully campaigned to prevent the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea from turning the centre of Sloane Square
into a crossroads. He also participated in the successful campaign to prevent the developers of the Chelsea Barracks
site from demolishing the Garrison Church. He is a patron of the Vaughan Parents Action Group which is campaigning to prevent the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
in Holland Park
, the outstanding Catholic comprehensive, from being turned into an ordinary local school.
Grantley is a Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and serves on the council of its British Association, and as a director of The Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth
. For ten years he was a director of The Order of St John Care Homes Trust. He is a regular worshipper at the London Oratory
and a long standing devotee of the traditional Latin Mass
.
Grantley is a keen bridge player. In 1972 he reached the final of the Daily Mail National Schools Bridge Competition; he was a regular member of the House of Lords bridge team in its annual matches against the House of Commons; and in 2011 he was a member of the Polish Club team which won the Devonshire Cup.
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...
, but joined the United Kingdom Independence Party when it was founded in 1993. As Baron Grantley
Baron Grantley
Lord Grantley, Baron of Markenfield, in the County of York, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1782 for Sir Fletcher Norton, Attorney General from 1763 to 1765 and Speaker of the House of Commons from 1770 to 1780. His son, the second Baron, was also a politician and...
, he was a member of the 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....
from 1995 to 2000.
Early life
The son of John Norton, 7th Baron Grantley, Norton was born in 1956. Through his maternal grandfather William Hare, 5th Earl of ListowelWilliam Hare, 5th Earl of Listowel
William Francis Hare, 5th Earl of Listowel GCMG, PC , styled Viscount Ennismore between 1924 and 1931, was a British peer and Labour politician...
, he is descended from Mary Tudor, Queen of France, and so from many kings of England, including William the Conqueror.
He was educated at Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest Roman Catholic co-educational boarding independent school in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1802, as a boys' school, and is run by the Benedictine monks and lay staff of Ampleforth Abbey...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, which he entered with an Open Scholarship in Mathematics, but graduated in Law. He was President of the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
in 1976.
Career
Norton worked in the Conservative Research DepartmentConservative Research Department
The Conservative Research Department is part of the central organisation of the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom. It operates alongside other departments of Conservative Campaign Headquarters at 30 Millbank, London SW1....
from 1977 to 1981. In 1978 he was seconded to work for the Opposition front bench in the 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....
. During the 1979 general election campaign
United Kingdom general election, 1979
The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats...
he worked in Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's Private Office. After the election, he became a special adviser for trade and energy and wrote The Benefits of Trade.
A councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough of Royal borough status. After the City of Westminster, it is the wealthiest borough in England....
from 1982 to 1986, he was 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...
parliamentary candidate for the unwinnable Wentworth constituency
Wentworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Wentworth was a parliamentary constituency in South Yorkshire. Originally created in 1918 and was abolished in 1950, the name was revived when a new constituency was created from 1983 to 2010. Throughout its history, Wentworth was a safe seat for the Labour Party.-Boundaries:Wentworth constituency...
at the 1983 general 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...
.
He joined 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...
on its foundation and became one of its early patrons. On 24 June 1995 he succeeded his father, John Norton, 7th Baron Grantley, and thus became UKIP's sole representative in Parliament. In 1996 he made 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 the House of Lords in the presence of his maternal grandfather, the Earl of Listowel, a member of the House of Lords since 1931, a feat unlikely ever to be repeated. In 1997 he became leader of UKIP in the House of Lords. He spoke in the House on five occasions. At the time of the reforms brought about by the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
, he did not stand for election as a continuing member, and so left the House in March 2000. He remains a member of UKIP.
In 1981 Grantley became a banker and worked as an international project financier at Morgan Grenfell, Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank AG is a global financial service company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. It employs more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets...
, and HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
. He was a director of Morgan Grenfell International Limited and of HSBC Project and Export Finance. He was head of oil and gas project finance at both institutions, and retired in 2005.
Grantley is active in his local Residents' Association and was a patron of Save Sloane Square, which successfully campaigned to prevent the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea from turning the centre of Sloane Square
Sloane Square
Sloane Square is a small hard-landscaped square on the boundaries of the fashionable London districts of Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea, located southwest of Charing Cross, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The square is part of the Hans Town area designed in 1771 by Henry...
into a crossroads. He also participated in the successful campaign to prevent the developers of the Chelsea Barracks
Chelsea Barracks
Chelsea Barracks was a British Army barracks located in the City of Westminster, London, adjacent to Chelsea, on Chelsea Bridge Road.-History:The barracks was originally built in the 1860s to house two battalions of troops...
site from demolishing the Garrison Church. He is a patron of the Vaughan Parents Action Group which is campaigning to prevent the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School is a Roman Catholic voluntary-aided comprehensive school in Holland Park, Kensington and Chelsea, London, England. And formerly one of several Selective Catholic Schools in England....
in Holland Park
Holland Park
Holland Park is a district and a public park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in west central London, England.Holland Park has a reputation as an affluent and fashionable area, known for attractive large Victorian townhouses, and high-class shopping and restaurants...
, the outstanding Catholic comprehensive, from being turned into an ordinary local school.
Grantley is a Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and serves on the council of its British Association, and as a director of The Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth
Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth
The Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth is an independent hospital in St John's Wood, London. It is informally known as "John & Lizzie's".It was founded in 1856 with a Roman Catholic affiliation and is a registered charity....
. For ten years he was a director of The Order of St John Care Homes Trust. He is a regular worshipper at the London Oratory
London Oratory
The London Oratory is a Catholic oratory, a community of lay-brothers, and the name given to the London Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri...
and a long standing devotee of the traditional Latin Mass
Latin Mass
The term Latin Mass refers to the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Mass celebrated in Latin.The term is frequently used to denote the Tridentine Mass: that is, the Roman-Rite liturgy of the Mass celebrated in accordance with the successive editions of the Roman Missal published between 1570 and 1962...
.
Grantley is a keen bridge player. In 1972 he reached the final of the Daily Mail National Schools Bridge Competition; he was a regular member of the House of Lords bridge team in its annual matches against the House of Commons; and in 2011 he was a member of the Polish Club team which won the Devonshire Cup.