The Lord True | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Lords Shadow Leader of the House of Lords | |
| Assumed office 8 July 2024 | |
| Leader | Rishi Sunak Kemi Badenoch |
| Preceded by | The Baroness Smith of Basildon |
| Leader of the House of Lords Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | |
| In office 6 September 2022 – 5 July 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Liz Truss Rishi Sunak |
| Preceded by | The Baroness Evans of Bowes Park |
| Succeeded by | The Baroness Smith of Basildon |
| Minister of State at the Cabinet Office | |
| In office 14 February 2020 – 6 September 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | David Laws[a] |
| Succeeded by | The Baroness Neville-Rolfe |
| Leader of the Richmond upon Thames Council | |
| In office 25 May 2010 – 4 July 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Serge Lourie |
| Succeeded by | Paul Hodgins |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal | |
| Assumed office 11 January 2011 Life Peerage | |
| Richmond upon Thames Councillor for East Sheen Ward | |
| In office 7 May 1998 – 3 May 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Grose S. |
| Succeeded by | Brian Anthony Marcel |
| In office 8 May 1986 – 3 May 1990 | |
| Preceded by | B. Semmens |
| Succeeded by | Baden-Powell K. Ms. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1951-07-31)31 July 1951 (age 74) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Nottingham High School |
| Alma mater | Peterhouse, Cambridge |
Nicholas Edward True, Baron True,CBE, PC (born 31 July 1951) is a BritishConservative politician who served asLeader of the House of Lords andLord Keeper of the Privy Seal between September 2022 and July 2024. He has been a member of theHouse of Lords since 2011 and Shadow Leader of the House of Lords since July 2024.[1]
True was born on 31 July 1951 to Edward Thomas True and Kathleen Louise True (née Mather). He was educated atNottingham High School andPeterhouse, Cambridge, from which he graduated with aBachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1973; as per tradition, his BA was promoted to aMaster of Arts (MA Cantab) in 1978.[2]
True worked in theConservative Research Department from 1975 to 1982, also serving as assistant to the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party from 1978 to 1982. He wasspecial adviser toNorman Fowler,Secretary of State for Health and Social Security from 1982 to 1986. He then moved to be Director of the Public Policy Unit from 1986 to 1990. He was Deputy Head of the Prime Minister's Policy Unit from 1991 to 1995, before becoming special adviser within thePrime Minister's Office in 1997, until thegeneral election of that year. In his memoirs the former Prime MinisterJohn Major says that True was his favourite speechwriter. He was appointed aCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the1993 New Year Honours.[3]
True served as private secretary to theLeader of the Opposition in theHouse of Lords and Director of the Opposition Whips' Office there from 1997 to 2010. On 23 December 2010 he was created alife peer asBaron True, ofEast Sheen in theCounty of Surrey.[4]
In June 2021, he announced plans for thePlatinum Jubilee Civic Honours in the House of Lords.[5]
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He was a Conservative councillor in theLondon Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames from 1986 to 1990 and again from 1998 to 2018. He served as Leader of the Council from 2010 to 2017, having previously served as Deputy Leader from 2002 to 2006 and Leader of the Opposition from 2006 to 2010.
He has been, since 2006, a trustee of the Richmond Civic Trust, and since 1996 a trustee of SirHarold Hood's Charitable Trust. He served theOlga Havel Foundation in the same capacity from 1990 to 1994.
In February 2020 True was made aMinister of State at the Cabinet Office.
On 6 September 2022, Liz Truss promoted him to Cabinet and appointed himLeader of the House of Lords.[6]
On 13 September 2022, he was sworn-in as a Member of thePrivy Council of the United Kingdom.[7]
In 1979 he married Anne-Marie Elena Kathleen Blanco, daughter of Robin Adrian Hood, director ofCAFOD from 1977 to 1982, and granddaughter of the businessman and Conservative politicianSir Joseph Hood, 1st Baronet.[8] They have two sons and one daughter.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant Title last held by David LawsasMinister Assisting the Deputy Prime Minister | Minister of State at the Cabinet Office 2020–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Leader of the House of Lords 2022–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Lord Privy Seal 2022–2024 | ||
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords 2022–present | Incumbent |
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| Also attended meetings | ||
| Departures | ||
| Cabinet members | | |
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| Also attended meetings | ||
| Departures | ||
