Richard Mark Newby, Baron NewbyOBE PC (born 14 February 1953) is a British politician who has been theleader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords[1] since September 2016.[2] He served asGovernment Deputy Chief Whip in theHouse of Lords, as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard between 2012 and 2015, as andLiberal Democrat Chief Whip in the House of Lords from 2012 to 2016.
Newby was born in February 1953,[3] the son of Frank and Kathleen Newby. He was educated at theRothwell Grammar School in the village ofLofthouse inWest Yorkshire, followed bySt Catherine's College at theUniversity of Oxford, where he received aBachelor of Arts degree inphilosophy, politics and economics in 1974 and was later awarded aMaster of Arts degree.
On leaving university, Newby joinedHM Customs and Excise where he became principal in charge of budget coordination in 1980. He was then director of corporate affairs at Rosehaugh plc, at one time a major property developer. He subsequently became a consultant on corporate social responsibility.
Newby worked extensively on programmes which used the power of sport to help motivate and educate children and young people. He was chair of sport atThe Prince's Trust (1997–2012), chair of International Development Through Sport (aUK Sport charity) and chair of Sport for Life International, of which he remains patron.
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Newby was Secretary of theSocial Democratic Party Parliamentary Committee in 1981, David Owen described him as 'an able young civil servant who resigned to come and work for us',[4] and National Secretary of the SDP from 1983 to 1988. He had parliamentary ambitions, seeking the candidacy forTwickenham, challengingVince Cable, in 1997.[5] From 1999 to 2006, Newby wasChief of Staff toCharles Kennedy. He was instrumental in the process of managing the succession of leadership from Kennedy toMenzies Campbell.[6][7]
He was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the1990 New Year Honours[8] and was created alife peer with the titleBaron Newby, ofRothwell in the County ofWest Yorkshire on 25 September 1997.[9]
At the beginning of May 2012, Lord Newby was appointed theLiberal Democrat Chief Whip in the House of Lords, and at the same time was appointed the Deputy Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords andCaptain of the Yeomen of the Guard.
In September 2012, he was appointedTreasury spokesman in the House of Lords.
In September 2016 he was electedLeader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, replacingLord Wallace of Tankerness.
Lord Newby has been married since 1978 to Ailsa Ballantyne (née Thomson), a priest andCanon Residentiary ofRipon Cathedral; they have two sons. According to the House of Lords register of members' interests, he jointly owns, with his wife, two flats in Lambeth, London, which are rented out.
BIRTHDAYS [...] Lib Dem Lords leader Dick Newby turns 70
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Deputy Government Chief Whip in theHouse of Lords 2012–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard 2012–2015 | ||
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Liberal Democrat Chief Whip of theHouse of Lords 2012–2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords 2016–present | Incumbent |
| Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by | Gentlemen Baron Newby | Followed by |
