Tim Razzall, Baron Razzall
Encyclopedia
Edward Timothy Razzall, Baron Razzall, CBE
(born 12 June 1943, Ealing
, London
) is a British
Liberal Democrat politician
.
in the early 1960s, where he also played cricket
for the university in 1964.
in 1969 and worked for Frere Cholmeley (later Frere Cholmeley Bischoff), becoming a partner in 1973, and chief executive in 1990 before leaving in 1995 to set up his own business.
In 1974 he was elected to represent Mortlake
ward in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
which he held for 24 years. During that time he served as chair of the council's Policy and Resources Committee for 13 years.
In 1986 he became joint Treasurer of the Liberal Party and then Treasurer of the newly merged Liberal Democrats in 1988. He was appointed CBE
in 1993 and created a life peer on 22 October 1997 as Baron Razzall, of Mortlake in the London Borough of Richmond. In July 2002, he was the best man at the wedding of Charles Kennedy
, the then Liberal Democrat leader, and Sarah Gurling.
From 2000 to 2006, he was Chair of the Liberal Democrats' Campaigns and Communications Committee. Along with Lord Rennard, he was responsible for running the Liberal Democrats' election campaigns. He stepped down from this post in May 2006 saying he wanted a change and to give his successor a chance to settle into the role before the 2010 general election.
He is currently the Liberal Democrat spokesman on trade and industry in the House of Lords
. His current partner is Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter,. His daughter from an earlier relationship is Katie Razzall, Channel 4 News presenter and reporter, married to actor Oliver Milburn
.
member and a Liberal parliamentary candidate in the 1945 General Election
.
, share a flat but both claim expenses from the House of Lords.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 12 June 1943, Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is a British
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...
Liberal Democrat politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Early life
Razzall studied at the University of OxfordUniversity of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in the early 1960s, where he also played cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for the university in 1964.
Career
He qualified as a solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in 1969 and worked for Frere Cholmeley (later Frere Cholmeley Bischoff), becoming a partner in 1973, and chief executive in 1990 before leaving in 1995 to set up his own business.
In 1974 he was elected to represent Mortlake
Mortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
ward in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough in South West London, UK, which forms part of Outer London. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames.-Settlement:...
which he held for 24 years. During that time he served as chair of the council's Policy and Resources Committee for 13 years.
In 1986 he became joint Treasurer of the Liberal Party and then Treasurer of the newly merged Liberal Democrats in 1988. He was appointed CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1993 and created a life peer on 22 October 1997 as Baron Razzall, of Mortlake in the London Borough of Richmond. In July 2002, he was the best man at the wedding of Charles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
, the then Liberal Democrat leader, and Sarah Gurling.
From 2000 to 2006, he was Chair of the Liberal Democrats' Campaigns and Communications Committee. Along with Lord Rennard, he was responsible for running the Liberal Democrats' election campaigns. He stepped down from this post in May 2006 saying he wanted a change and to give his successor a chance to settle into the role before the 2010 general election.
He is currently the Liberal Democrat spokesman on trade and industry 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....
. His current partner is Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter,. His daughter from an earlier relationship is Katie Razzall, Channel 4 News presenter and reporter, married to actor Oliver Milburn
Oliver Milburn
Oliver Milburn , occasionally known by the name Oz Milburn, is an English actor.-Early life:Milburn was born in Dorset and educated at the Dragon School in Oxford, and then Eton College. He then went straight into television, with no formal acting training.-Career:He played Matthew Bannerman in...
.
Influences
Baron Razzall's father, Humphrey Razzall, was a Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
member and a Liberal parliamentary candidate in the 1945 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
.
Controversy
He was criticised when it was claimed that he and his partner, Baroness Bonham-CarterJane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury
Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury is a British Liberal Democrat politician.-Education:Bonham Carter was educated at St...
, share a flat but both claim expenses from the House of Lords.
External links
- Lord Razzall profile at the site of Liberal Democrats
- Tim Razzall's cricketing record for Oxford