Tom Arnold (politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Richard Arnold (born 25 January 1947), known as Tom Arnold, is a British
politician who was the Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party
in 1983.
on 25 January 1947. He is the son of Thomas Charles Arnold
, a theatrical producer. Young Tom Arnold attended the Bedales School
, the Institut Le Rosey
, and Pembroke College, Oxford
.
in 1974, and served as the Conservative
Member of Parliament
for Hazel Grove
until his retirement in 1997. From 1979 to 1982, Arnold was the Parliamentary Private Secretary
in the Northern Ireland Office
and later in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
. In 1983, Arnold was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party
under Chairmans
Cecil Parkinson
and John Gummer
.
When Arnold began office, in 1974, he was one of the youngest members of Parliament
, along with Anthony Nelson
and Sir Malcolm Rifkind
, later joined in 1977 by both Andrew MacKay and Tim Smith
. Together, during the 1970s, the five were referred to as "The Tories' Young Men", with Arnold being the only backbencher
in the group. Arnold was an ardent supporter of the European Economic Community
during his time in Parliament
.
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 who was the Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party
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...
in 1983.
Biography
Tom Arnold was born (as Thomas Richard Arnold) in LondonLondon
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...
on 25 January 1947. He is the son of Thomas Charles Arnold
Tom Arnold (Theatre Impressario)
Tom Arnold, OBE was a theatrical producer in the United Kingdom.Born in Yorkshire, Arnold spent much of his life travelling although he considered Brighton his second home. His business activities were extensive and included opera, classical plays, films, revues, American rodeo and variety, ice...
, a theatrical producer. Young Tom Arnold attended the Bedales School
Bedales School
Bedales School is a co-educational independent school situated in Hampshire, in the south east of England. Founded in 1893 by John Haden Badley in reaction to the limitations of conventional Victorian schools, today the school is one of the most expensive in the UK, charging £9,985 per term for a...
, the Institut Le Rosey
Institut Le Rosey
Institut Le Rosey, commonly referred to as Le Rosey or simply Rosey, is a school, in Gstaad, Switzerland. It is described as one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the world. The school was founded by Paul-Émile Carnal in 1880 on the site of the 14th-century Château du Rosey near the town...
, and Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
.
Political career
Arnold was elected to the British House of CommonsBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1974, and served as 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...
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 Hazel Grove
Hazel Grove (UK Parliament constituency)
Hazel Grove is a county 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 :...
until his retirement in 1997. From 1979 to 1982, Arnold was the Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
in the Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Office
The Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
and later in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
. In 1983, Arnold was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party
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...
under Chairmans
Chairman of the Conservative Party
In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Conservative Party is responsible for running the party machine, overseeing Conservative Central Office. When the Conservatives are in power, the Chairman is usually a member of the Cabinet being given a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio...
Cecil Parkinson
Cecil Parkinson
Cecil Parkinson, Baron Parkinson, PC , is a British Conservative politician and former Cabinet Minister.-Early life:...
and John Gummer
John Gummer
John Selwyn Gummer, Baron Deben, PC is a British Conservative Party politician, formerly Member of Parliament for Suffolk Coastal, now a member of the House of Lords. He is Chairman of the environmental consultancy company Sancroft International and Chairman of Veolia Water...
.
When Arnold began office, in 1974, he was one of the youngest members of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, along with Anthony Nelson
Anthony Nelson
Richard Anthony Nelson is a former British Conservative politician. He was educated at Harrow School and Christ's College, Cambridge...
and Sir Malcolm Rifkind
Malcolm Rifkind
Sir Malcolm Leslie Rifkind KCMG QC MP is a British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament for Kensington. He served in various roles as a cabinet minister under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including Secretary of State for Scotland , Defence Secretary and...
, later joined in 1977 by both Andrew MacKay and Tim Smith
Tim Smith (UK politician)
Timothy John Smith, known as Tim Smith, is a former British Conservative politician.-Politics:...
. Together, during the 1970s, the five were referred to as "The Tories' Young Men", with Arnold being the only backbencher
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
in the group. Arnold was an ardent supporter of the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
during his time in Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
.