Richard Shepherd
Encyclopedia
Richard Charles Scrimgeour Shepherd (born 6 December 1942, in Aberdeen
, Scotland
) is a Conservative
politician in the United Kingdom
. He is currently a Member of Parliament
, having represented the constituency of Aldridge-Brownhills
since 1979
.
A Eurosceptic
, Shepherd was one of the Maastricht Rebels
that had the whip
withdrawn over opposition to John Major
's legislation on the European Union
. Shepherd is also a libertarian
, and had a three line whip imposed against him by Margaret Thatcher
when he introduced an amendment loosening the Official Secrets Act 1911
.
) in Isleworth
. He then went on to the London School of Economics
where he received a Bachelor of Science
degree in Economics, and where he studied with and became a friend of Robert Kilroy-Silk
. At the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
at Johns Hopkins University
in the United States
, Shepherd received an Master of Science
in Economics.
Shepherd was a director of the retail food businesses Partridges of Sloane Street
and Shepherd Foods in London. He was then an underwriter at Lloyd's of London
from 1974-94.
in February 1974, where he was defeated by the Labour Party
candidate Jack Dunnett
. Shepherd was formerly an assistant to Sir Teddy Taylor
, and has been the Member of Parliament for Aldridge-Brownhills since 1979. He was selected as 'Backbencher of the Year' in 1985 and the Spectator
's 'Parliamentarian of the Year' in 1995. In 1989, he was identified by a Mori
poll of his fellow MPs to be one of the ten most effective MPs currently sitting in Parliament.
One of the most significant events in Shepherd's career came in 1988 when he introduced his Protection of Official Information Bill, which was to replace parts of the Official Secrets Act 1911
, with intent to provide limited protection to some whistleblowers. The government introduced a three line whip which called on its MPs to vote against the bill, even though it was introduced by a member of their own party. This brought considerable debate at the time both in parliament and in the media. The bill was defeated. However Shepherd successfully introduced similar provisions into law in 1998.
Shepherd was one of the Maastricht rebels
, and is known to have libertarian
leanings. He had close links to fellow Maastricht rebels Nicholas Budgen
and Christopher Gill, even giving the eulogy
at Budgen's funeral at Lichfield Cathedral
.
Shepherd is a strong advocate of Parliament's power to hold the government to account. Shepherd stood to be Speaker of the House of Commons
in 2000
, and won 136 votes: the third-closest to defeating Michael Martin of eleven opponents. When Martin was forced out, in 2009, he stood for the position again
. An outsider, at 14/1, he won only 15 votes, and was eliminated on the first ballot.
Shepherd is rated as one of the Conservatives' most rebellious MPs.
.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) is a 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...
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 is currently a 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,...
, having represented the constituency of Aldridge-Brownhills
Aldridge-Brownhills (UK Parliament constituency)
Aldridge-Brownhills is a borough 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...
since 1979
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...
.
A Eurosceptic
Euroscepticism
Euroscepticism is a general term used to describe criticism of the European Union , and opposition to the process of European integration, existing throughout the political spectrum. Traditionally, the main source of euroscepticism has been the notion that integration weakens the nation state...
, Shepherd was one of the Maastricht Rebels
Maastricht Rebels
The Maastricht Rebels were British Members of Parliament belonging to the then governing Conservative Party who refused to support the government of John Major in a series of votes in the House of Commons on the issue of the implementation of the Maastricht Treaty in British law.The Maastrict...
that had the whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
withdrawn over opposition to 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...
's legislation on the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. Shepherd is also a libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
, and had a three line whip imposed against him by Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
when he introduced an amendment loosening the Official Secrets Act 1911
Official Secrets Act 1911
The Official Secrets Act 1911 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It replaces the Official Secrets Act 1889....
.
Early life
Shepherd was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and educated at Isleworth Grammar School (now Isleworth and Syon SchoolIsleworth and Syon School
Isleworth and Syon School is a secondary comprehensive school, with sixth form, for boys aged 11 to 18 years. It is situated on Ridgeway Road, Isleworth, within the London Borough of Hounslow, England. The number of pupils is more than a thousand - up from eight hundred in 1995...
) in Isleworth
Isleworth
Isleworth is a small town of Saxon origin sited within the London Borough of Hounslow in west London, England. It lies immediately east of the town of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane. Isleworth's original area of settlement, alongside the Thames, is known as...
. He then went on to the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
where he received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Economics, and where he studied with and became a friend of Robert Kilroy-Silk
Robert Kilroy-Silk
Robert Michael Kilroy-Silk is an English former politician, former independent Member of the European Parliament, and former television presenter, best known for his daytime talk show Kilroy. He has been a university lecturer and Labour Party Member of Parliament...
. At the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies , a division of Johns Hopkins University based in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's leading and most prestigious graduate schools devoted to the study of international affairs, economics, diplomacy, and policy research and...
at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Shepherd received an Master of Science
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 Economics.
Shepherd was a director of the retail food businesses Partridges of Sloane Street
Sloane Street
Sloane Street is a major London street which runs north to south, from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square, crossing Pont Street about half way along, entirely in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Sloane Street takes its name from Sir Hans Sloane, who purchased the surrounding area in 1712...
and Shepherd Foods in London. He was then an underwriter at Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
from 1974-94.
Parliamentary career
Shepherd contested the constituency of Nottingham EastNottingham East (UK Parliament constituency)
Nottingham East is a borough 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.-Boundaries:...
in February 1974, where he was defeated by the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
candidate Jack Dunnett
Jack Dunnett
John Jacob Dunnett , known as Jack Dunnett, is a British Labour Party politician.He was educated at Whitgift Middle School, Croydon, and Downing College, Cambridge, and became a solicitor. He served as a councillor on Middlesex County Council 1958-61 and on Enfield Borough Council 1958-61, serving...
. Shepherd was formerly an assistant to Sir Teddy Taylor
Teddy Taylor
Sir Edward MacMillan Taylor, usually known as Teddy Taylor , is a British Conservative Party politician who was a Member of Parliament from 1964 to 1979 for Glasgow Cathcart and from 1980 to 2005 for Rochford and Southend East.He was a leading member and sometime Vice-President of the Conservative...
, and has been the Member of Parliament for Aldridge-Brownhills since 1979. He was selected as 'Backbencher of the Year' in 1985 and the Spectator
The Spectator
The 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...
's 'Parliamentarian of the Year' in 1995. In 1989, he was identified by a Mori
Mori
Mori is a Japanese and Italian surname. In Japanese, Mori may also be a given name. It is also the name of two clans in Japan, and one in India.-Italian persons named Mori:*Cesare Mori, Italian "Iron Prefect"...
poll of his fellow MPs to be one of the ten most effective MPs currently sitting in Parliament.
One of the most significant events in Shepherd's career came in 1988 when he introduced his Protection of Official Information Bill, which was to replace parts of the Official Secrets Act 1911
Official Secrets Act 1911
The Official Secrets Act 1911 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It replaces the Official Secrets Act 1889....
, with intent to provide limited protection to some whistleblowers. The government introduced a three line whip which called on its MPs to vote against the bill, even though it was introduced by a member of their own party. This brought considerable debate at the time both in parliament and in the media. The bill was defeated. However Shepherd successfully introduced similar provisions into law in 1998.
Shepherd was one of the Maastricht rebels
Maastricht Rebels
The Maastricht Rebels were British Members of Parliament belonging to the then governing Conservative Party who refused to support the government of John Major in a series of votes in the House of Commons on the issue of the implementation of the Maastricht Treaty in British law.The Maastrict...
, and is known to have libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
leanings. He had close links to fellow Maastricht rebels Nicholas Budgen
Nicholas Budgen
Nicholas William Budgen , often called Nick Budgen, was a British Conservative Party politician.Named after St...
and Christopher Gill, even giving the eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
at Budgen's funeral at Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
.
Shepherd is a strong advocate of Parliament's power to hold the government to account. Shepherd stood to be Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
in 2000
Speaker of the British House of Commons election, 2000
The 2000 election of the Speaker of the British House of Commons occurred on 23 October 2000 after the retirement of Betty Boothroyd as Speaker. The election resulted in the election of Scottish Labour MP Michael Martin...
, and won 136 votes: the third-closest to defeating Michael Martin of eleven opponents. When Martin was forced out, in 2009, he stood for the position again
Speaker of the British House of Commons election, 2009
The 2009 election of the Speaker of the British House of Commons occurred on 22 June 2009 after the resignation of Michael Martin as Speaker following the MPs' expenses scandal. Martin was the first Speaker since Sir John Trevor in 1695 to be forced from office...
. An outsider, at 14/1, he won only 15 votes, and was eliminated on the first ballot.
Shepherd is rated as one of the Conservatives' most rebellious MPs.
Personal life
Shepherd is single. He has served as President of Walsall Football ClubWalsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
.
External links
- Richard Shepherd MP Conservative Party profile
- Aldridge-Brownhills Conservative Association
- Richard Shepherd at ConservativeHome