Tessa Blackstone, Baroness Blackstone
Encyclopedia
Tessa Ann Vosper Blackstone, Baroness Blackstone , PC
, born 1942, is an English
politician and university administrator.
, where she gained a doctorate. Her academic career began at the former Enfield College (now Middlesex University
) before she went on to become a lecturer at the LSE and Professor of Educational Administration at the University of London Institute of Education
. She has also held research fellowships at the Centre for Studies in Public Policy and the Policy Studies Institute
.
However, her background is middle-class: her father was the chief fire officer for Hertfordshire, her mother an actor and model for the House of Worth in Paris.
A brother, Timothy Blackstone, was a porn star in the 1970s and was convicted of insider trading in 2003.
Although once known as the 'Red Baroness' despite her particular interests and personal manner, she has served as chairman of the ballet board of the Royal Opera House
, the Fabian Society
, and the Institute for Public Policy Research
(IPPR), and has sat on the governing bodies of numerous other organisations.
Deputy Education Officer of the Inner London Education Authority
(1983–86). She has also worked as a policy adviser in the Cabinet Office
. Blackstone was known as a "dark-eyed evil genius" when, as a member of Jim Callaghan's Downing Street
thinktank, she upset the Foreign Office by criticizing diplomats' lavish lifestyles.
She headed Birkbeck College
, University of London
, for a decade as Master (from 1987 to 1997) until her appointment to the new Labour
government in 1997. She has been on the Board of Trustees of The Architecture Foundation
.
Self-described as 'vintage' rather than old or new Labour, Blackstone has been Minister for Education at the Department of Education from 1997 to 2001 then Minister for the Arts
at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport 2001–2003.
She is a Labour
life peer
in the House of Lords
and sits as Baroness Blackstone, of Stoke Newington
in Greater London
.
On 15 September 2010, Blackstone, along with 54 other public figures, signed an open letter published in The Guardian
, stating their opposition to Pope Benedict XVI
's state visit to the UK.
.
Baroness Blackstone is a Vice-President of the British Humanist Association
.
She chairs the Royal Institute of British Architects
(RIBA) trust.
In 2009, she became the Chair at Great Ormond Street Hospital
.
In 2010, she became Chair at British Library
. 4-year term.
In the national media, she has broadcast and written extensively.
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 1942, is an English
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...
politician and university administrator.
Academic background
Blackstone was educated at Ware Grammar School for Girls and the London School of EconomicsLondon 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 she gained a doctorate. Her academic career began at the former Enfield College (now Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
) before she went on to become a lecturer at the LSE and Professor of Educational Administration at the University of London Institute of Education
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
. She has also held research fellowships at the Centre for Studies in Public Policy and the Policy Studies Institute
Policy Studies Institute
The Policy Studies Institute is a British think-tank. It was formed in 1978 through the merger of the former Centre for the Study of Social Policy and Political and Economic Planning. Since 1998 it has been an independent subsidiary of the University of Westminster...
.
Further career
It was said that 'her patrician manner is at odds with the horror she has inspired in Conservative quarters' (Donald MacLeod).However, her background is middle-class: her father was the chief fire officer for Hertfordshire, her mother an actor and model for the House of Worth in Paris.
A brother, Timothy Blackstone, was a porn star in the 1970s and was convicted of insider trading in 2003.
Although once known as the 'Red Baroness' despite her particular interests and personal manner, she has served as chairman of the ballet board of the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, the Fabian Society
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
, and the Institute for Public Policy Research
Institute for Public Policy Research
The IPPR is the leading progressive think-tank in the UK. It produces research and policy ideas committed to upholding values of social justice, democratic reform and environmental sustainability. IPPR is based in London and IPPR North has branches in Newcastle and Manchester.It was founded in...
(IPPR), and has sat on the governing bodies of numerous other organisations.
Deputy Education Officer of the Inner London Education Authority
Inner London Education Authority
The Inner London Education Authority was the education authority for the 12 inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990.-History:...
(1983–86). She has also worked as a policy adviser in the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
. Blackstone was known as a "dark-eyed evil genius" when, as a member of Jim Callaghan's Downing Street
Downing Street
Downing Street in London, England has for over two hundred years housed the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers: the First Lord of the Treasury, an office now synonymous with that of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an...
thinktank, she upset the Foreign Office by criticizing diplomats' lavish lifestyles.
She headed Birkbeck College
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, for a decade as Master (from 1987 to 1997) until her appointment to the new Labour
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...
government in 1997. She has been on the Board of Trustees of The Architecture Foundation
The Architecture Foundation
The Architecture Foundation was Britain's first independent architecture centre. Established in 1991, it aims to promote contemporary architecture.The Architecture Foundation has organised public exhibitions, design initiatives, competitions and debates....
.
Politics
Originally on the Opposition front bench in House of Lords, Blackstone held a succession of portfolios during her time at Birkbeck.Self-described as 'vintage' rather than old or new Labour, Blackstone has been Minister for Education at the Department of Education from 1997 to 2001 then Minister for the Arts
Minister for the Arts
In the United Kingdom government, the Minister for the Arts is a ministerial post, usually a low to middle-ranking minister to the much senior Secretary of State, who runs the entire department and is ultimately responsibility for the department's brief....
at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport 2001–2003.
She is a Labour
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...
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...
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....
and sits as Baroness Blackstone, of Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
.
On 15 September 2010, Blackstone, along with 54 other public figures, signed an open letter published in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, stating their opposition to Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
's state visit to the UK.
Current activities
In 2004, she became Vice-Chancellor of the University of GreenwichUniversity of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is a British university located in the London Borough of Greenwich, London, England. The main campus is located on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, a central location within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:The history of the...
.
Baroness Blackstone is a Vice-President of the British Humanist Association
British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
.
She chairs the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
(RIBA) trust.
In 2009, she became the Chair at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a children's hospital located in London, United Kingdom...
.
In 2010, she became Chair at British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
. 4-year term.
Publications
Her many publications, which mainly cover education and social policy issues, include:- ‘Disadvantage and Education’ with Jo Mortimore (Heinemann, 1982)
- ‘Race Relations in Britain’ with Bhikhu Parekh and Peter Saunders (Routledge, 1997)
In the national media, she has broadcast and written extensively.
External links
- Vice-Chancellor – Baroness Blackstone at University of Greenwich
- Donald MacLeod, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, July 12, 2005, "Tessa Blackstone: Naval gazing"