Robert Carr
Encyclopedia
Leonard Robert Carr, Baron Carr of Hadley, PC
(born 11 November 1916) is a British Conservative
politician.
Robert Carr was educated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
where he read Natural Sciences
, graduating in 1938.
He was elected Member of Parliament
for Mitcham
in 1950 and served there until 1974 when the seat was merged and he moved to Carshalton
. In Edward Heath
's government he served as Secretary of State for Employment
and was responsible for the Industrial Relations Act 1971
, which balanced the introduction of compensation for unfair dismissal
with curbs on the freedom to strike
and the virtual abolition of closed shop
agreements.
In 1971 he escaped injury when the Angry Brigade anarchist group exploded two bombs outside his house. More than thirty years later a member of the group issued a public apology to Carr, and sent him a Christmas card.
In 1972 he served a brief period as Lord President of the Council
and was then appointed Home Secretary after the resignation of Reginald Maudling
. After his defeat in the first ballot of the 1975 Conservative leadership contest, Edward Heath
asked Carr to 'take over the functions of leader' until a new leader was elected.
He was created a Life peer
as Baron Carr of Hadley, of Monken Hadley
, North London
, in 1976.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(born 11 November 1916) is a British 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.
Robert Carr was educated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
where he read Natural Sciences
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
, graduating in 1938.
He was elected 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 Mitcham
Mitcham (UK Parliament constituency)
Mitcham was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Mitcham suburb of South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system....
in 1950 and served there until 1974 when the seat was merged and he moved to Carshalton
Carshalton (UK Parliament constituency)
Carshalton was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Carshalton suburb of London, in what is now the London Borough of Sutton. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
. In Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
's government he served as Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Employment
The Secretary of State for Employment was a position in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. In 1995 it was merged with Secretary of State for Education to make the Secretary of State for Education and Employment...
and was responsible for the Industrial Relations Act 1971
Industrial Relations Act 1971
The Industrial Relations Act 1971 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, since repealed. It was largely based on proposals outlined in the governing Conservative Party's manifesto for the 1970 general election...
, which balanced the introduction of compensation for unfair dismissal
Unfair dismissal
Unfair dismissal is the term used in UK labour law to describe an employer's action when terminating an employee's employment contrary to the requirements of the Employment Rights Act 1996...
with curbs on the freedom to strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
and the virtual abolition of closed shop
Closed shop
A closed shop is a form of union security agreement under which the employer agrees to hire union members only, and employees must remain members of the union at all times in order to remain employed....
agreements.
In 1971 he escaped injury when the Angry Brigade anarchist group exploded two bombs outside his house. More than thirty years later a member of the group issued a public apology to Carr, and sent him a Christmas card.
In 1972 he served a brief period as Lord President of the Council
Lord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
and was then appointed Home Secretary after the resignation of Reginald Maudling
Reginald Maudling
Reginald Maudling was a British politician who held several Cabinet posts, including Chancellor of the Exchequer. He had been spoken of as a prospective Conservative leader since 1955, and was twice seriously considered for the post; he was Edward Heath's chief rival in 1965...
. After his defeat in the first ballot of the 1975 Conservative leadership contest, Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
asked Carr to 'take over the functions of leader' until a new leader was elected.
He was created a Life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Carr of Hadley, of Monken Hadley
Monken Hadley
Monken Hadley is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. An ancient country village north of Barnet, it is now a suburban development situated on the very edge of Greater London north north-west of Charing Cross, while retaining much of its rural character....
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
, in 1976.