William Legge, 10th Earl of Dartmouth
Encyclopedia
William Legge, 10th Earl of Dartmouth (born 23 September 1949) is a British peer and politician
. He is a Member of the European Parliament
for South West England
representing the United Kingdom Independence Party
.
, and Raine McCorquodale, the daughter of romantic novelist Barbara Cartland
. He was a stepbrother of Diana, Princess of Wales
.
and Christ Church
, Oxford
, where he was an officer of the Oxford University Conservative Association
and the Oxford Union Society. He also attended Harvard Business School
, from which he gained an MBA.
until the Labour Party
's reforms, which removed most hereditary members. In January 2007 he announced he was leaving the Conservative Party
in favour of UKIP over concerns about Conservative leader David Cameron
's policies.
Lord Dartmouth was elected as the second UKIP candidate for the South West England
region in the European Parliament election, 2009
. In the European Parliament
he sits as part of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy
group and is a member of the Committee on International Trade
.
He married June 2009 Fiona Campbell, whose first husband Matt Handbury is Rupert Murdoch
's nephew. He has a son (Gerald Glen Legge) from a previous relationship (with the socialite, Claire Kavanagh). The son is the heir to the Earl.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for South West England
South West England (European Parliament constituency)
South West England is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elects 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation, reduced from 7 in 2004.-Boundaries:...
representing the United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
.
Early life
Lord Dartmouth is the eldest son of Gerald Legge, 9th Earl of DartmouthGerald Legge, 9th Earl of Dartmouth
Gerald Humphry Legge, 9th Earl of Dartmouth FCA was a British peer and businessman.Legge was the only son of the 8th Earl of Dartmouth...
, and Raine McCorquodale, the daughter of romantic novelist Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland
Dame Barbara Hamilton Cartland, DBE, CStJ , was an English author, one of the most prolific authors of the 20th century...
. He was a stepbrother of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
Education
Lord Dartmouth was educated at Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, Oxford
University 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...
, where he was an officer of the Oxford University Conservative Association
Oxford University Conservative Association
The Oxford University Conservative Association, or OUCA is a student political organisation founded in 1924 whose members are drawn from the University of Oxford...
and the Oxford Union Society. He also attended Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, from which he gained an MBA.
Life and career
Lord Dartmouth had a seat in the House of LordsHouse 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....
until the Labour Party
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...
's reforms, which removed most hereditary members. In January 2007 he announced he was leaving 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 favour of UKIP over concerns about Conservative leader David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
's policies.
Lord Dartmouth was elected as the second UKIP candidate for the South West England
South West England (European Parliament constituency)
South West England is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elects 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation, reduced from 7 in 2004.-Boundaries:...
region in the European Parliament election, 2009
European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom)
The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after...
. In the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
he sits as part of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy
Europe of Freedom and Democracy
Europe of Freedom and Democracy is a Eurosceptic political group in the European Parliament. Formed after the European parliamentary election in 2009, it is mostly made up of elements of the now defunct Independence/Democracy and Union for a Europe of Nations groups from the out-going...
group and is a member of the Committee on International Trade
Committee on International Trade
The Committee on International Trade INTA is a committee of the European Parliament.-External links:*...
.
He married June 2009 Fiona Campbell, whose first husband Matt Handbury is Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
's nephew. He has a son (Gerald Glen Legge) from a previous relationship (with the socialite, Claire Kavanagh). The son is the heir to the Earl.