Victoria Borwick
Encyclopedia
Victoria Lorne Peta, Baroness Borwick (born Victoria Lorne Peta Poore, 26 April 1956) is a British
businesswoman and politician. After holding senior management positions with P & O
and DMG World Media
, she became director of fundraising for the Conservative Party
. She has been prominent in London
politics as a councillor in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
, and has run for the Conservative nomination to be Mayor of London
. In 2008
she was elected to the London Assembly
.
in 2007; they have three sons and a daughter. For most of her working life, Lady Borwick has been in events management. She was group director of the events arm of shipping company P & O. She organised the Olympia
Fine Art and Antiques Fairs as Director from 1990 until 2001, and in 2002 was recruited to assist International Fine Art Expositions' New International Fine Art Fair in New York City
.
nomination in the race for Mayor of London
. When Norris became the candidate she was given a place on the Conservative Party list for the London Assembly
; however she was not elected.
Lady Borwick was elected to Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council
in May 2002 in Abingdon ward. She became Director of Income Generation and Marketing for the Conservative Party in October 2002, aiming to increase revenue from the party's supporter base.
In the run-up to the 2004 Mayoral election
, Victoria Borwick offered herself as a candidate. She made the shortlist but was not in the final two in the selection, which went again to Steve Norris. Despite her defeat she spoke at the 2003 Conservative Party conference in support of Norris, using her resemblance to television host Anne Robinson
(including red hair
) to direct the catchphrase "You are the weakest link, goodbye" to incumbent Mayor Ken Livingstone
.
, declaring her candidacy in July 2006; contrasting her appearance with the nickname for the incumbent Mayor, she declared "London needs a redhead, not Red Ken". However, the Conservatives found the overall standard of their candidates poor and postponed the planned open primaries. In 2007 she published a pamphlet for the Centre for Policy Studies
outlining "The Cost of Ken" which itemised the Greater London Authority
budget.
In the middle of the postponed Mayoral selection, Lady Borwick ran for the selection to be Assembly candidate for West Central
, but lost to Kit Malthouse
. The Mayoral selection resumed in summer 2007 when Boris Johnson
declared his candidacy; although Borwick made the shortlist of four and ended up second in the ballot, she was far behind Johnson, receiving 1,869 votes to Johnson's 15,661. She was appointed as a consultant to the Johnson campaign.
.
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...
businesswoman and politician. After holding senior management positions with P & O
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
and DMG World Media
Daily Mail and General Trust
Daily Mail and General Trust plc is a British media conglomerate, one of the largest in Europe. In the UK, it has interests in national and regional newspapers, television and radio. The company has extensive activities based outside the UK, through Northcliffe Media, DMG Radio Australia, DMG World...
, she became director of fundraising for 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...
. She has been prominent in 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...
politics as a councillor in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough of Royal borough status. After the City of Westminster, it is the wealthiest borough in England....
, and has run for the Conservative nomination to be Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
. In 2008
London Assembly election, 2008
An election to the Assembly of London took place on 1 May 2008, along with the London mayoral election, 2008. The Conservatives gained 2 seats, Labour gained one seat, the Liberal Democrats lost two seats, and United Kingdom Independence Party or One London as they became were wiped out...
she was elected to the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
.
Personal and business life
Victoria Borwick was born in London. On 20 March 1981 she married Jamie Borwick, who succeeded to the Peerage as Baron BorwickBaron Borwick
Baron Borwick, of Hawkshead in the County of Lancaster, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1922 for the businessman Sir Robert Borwick, 1st Baronet. He was Chairman of George Borwick & Sons Ltd, manufacturers of baking and custard powders. The company had been...
in 2007; they have three sons and a daughter. For most of her working life, Lady Borwick has been in events management. She was group director of the events arm of shipping company P & O. She organised the Olympia
Olympia, London
Olympia is an exhibition centre and conference centre in West Kensington, on the boundary between The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, London, W14 8UX, England. It opened in the 19th century and was originally known as the National Agricultural Hall.Opened in 1886,...
Fine Art and Antiques Fairs as Director from 1990 until 2001, and in 2002 was recruited to assist International Fine Art Expositions' New International Fine Art Fair in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Political life
In September 1999, Victoria Borwick was picked by Steve Norris as his running mate and potential Deputy Mayor, during Norris' bid for the Conservative PartyConservative 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...
nomination in the race for Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
. When Norris became the candidate she was given a place on the Conservative Party list for the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
; however she was not elected.
Lady Borwick was elected to Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council
Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council
Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council is the local authority for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Kensington and Chelsea is divided into 18 wards, each electing three...
in May 2002 in Abingdon ward. She became Director of Income Generation and Marketing for the Conservative Party in October 2002, aiming to increase revenue from the party's supporter base.
In the run-up to the 2004 Mayoral election
London mayoral election, 2004
The 2004 election to the post of Mayor of London took place on 10 June 2004. It was being held on the same day as other local elections and the UK part of the 2004 European Parliament elections, so Londoners had a total of five votes on three ballot papers. Polling opened at 07:00 local time, and...
, Victoria Borwick offered herself as a candidate. She made the shortlist but was not in the final two in the selection, which went again to Steve Norris. Despite her defeat she spoke at the 2003 Conservative Party conference in support of Norris, using her resemblance to television host Anne Robinson
Anne Robinson
Anne Josephine Robinson is an English journalist and television presenter, known for her assertive views and acerbic style of presenting. She was one of the presenters on the long-running British consumer affairs series, Watchdog, from 1993 to 2001 before returning in 2009...
(including red hair
Red hair
Red hair occurs on approximately 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations...
) to direct the catchphrase "You are the weakest link, goodbye" to incumbent Mayor Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
.
2008 Mayoral contest
Victoria Borwick stood again for the nomination for the 2008 raceLondon mayoral election, 2008
The London mayoral election, 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate Boris Johnson....
, declaring her candidacy in July 2006; contrasting her appearance with the nickname for the incumbent Mayor, she declared "London needs a redhead, not Red Ken". However, the Conservatives found the overall standard of their candidates poor and postponed the planned open primaries. In 2007 she published a pamphlet for the Centre for Policy Studies
Centre for Policy Studies
The Centre for Policy Studies is a British right wing policy think tank whose goal is to promote coherent and practical public policy, to roll back the state, reform public services, support communities, and challenge threats to Britain’s independence...
outlining "The Cost of Ken" which itemised the Greater London Authority
Greater London Authority
The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...
budget.
In the middle of the postponed Mayoral selection, Lady Borwick ran for the selection to be Assembly candidate for West Central
West Central (London Assembly constituency)
West Central is a constituency represented on the London Assembly. The seat is currently held by Kit Malthouse, a Conservative from Westminster....
, but lost to Kit Malthouse
Kit Malthouse
Kit Malthouse is Deputy Mayor of London with responsibility for the Metropolitan Police. A politician, businessman and occasional writer, he is a Conservative and a member of the London Assembly representing the West Central constituency, which encompasses the City of Westminster, the London...
. The Mayoral selection resumed in summer 2007 when Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
declared his candidacy; although Borwick made the shortlist of four and ended up second in the ballot, she was far behind Johnson, receiving 1,869 votes to Johnson's 15,661. She was appointed as a consultant to the Johnson campaign.
Assembly
Lady Borwick was placed second on the Conservative list for the London Assembly. The Conservatives won three seats and so Borwick was elected in the 2008 electionLondon Assembly election, 2008
An election to the Assembly of London took place on 1 May 2008, along with the London mayoral election, 2008. The Conservatives gained 2 seats, Labour gained one seat, the Liberal Democrats lost two seats, and United Kingdom Independence Party or One London as they became were wiped out...
.
External links
- Campaign page for Conservative nomination to be Mayor.
- Victoria Borwick at the London Assembly.