Howard Flight
Encyclopedia
Howard Emerson Flight, Baron Flight (born 16 June 1948) is a Conservative
politician in the United Kingdom
and a member of the House of Lords
. He was Member of Parliament
for Arundel and South Downs
from 1997
to 2005
. He held several Shadow posts: Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury
1999-2001, Shadow Paymaster General to 2002, then Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
.
and the University of Michigan
's Ross School of Business
. From 1970 to 1998 he worked as an investment adviser and director in various banks. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament for Bermondsey
in the February
and October 1974 general elections
. Flight is author of All you Need to know about Exchange Rates (1989), and contributor to the book The City in Europe and the World
(2005). He has been married to Christabel since 1974; they have four children: Kitty, Thomas, Josie and Maryanne.
meeting that was being secretly recorded. In the meeting he stated that the Conservatives in office could make more spending cuts than they were promising in their campaign before the general election. Conservative leader Michael Howard
then withdrew the party whip, and announced that Flight was no longer an approved candidate and could not contest the Arundel and South Downs seat as a Conservative party candidate at the 2005 general election
. Flight refused to accept this, maintaining that only his local party branch has the right to deselect him. On 29 March 2005, he announced that he had an opinion from a Queen's Counsel
, confirming his view. The Arundel and South Downs Conservative branch initially refused to seek a new candidate, though they reversed their position when threatened with the 'Slough treatment', referring to the suspension of that association for refusing to deselect Adrian Hilton
. Amid speculation, Flight confirmed that he would not stand as an independent and would not oppose any decision by the local association to deselect him.
and Nick Herbert put themselves forward for nomination as replacement candidates. The chosen candidate, Nick Herbert
, won the seat at the election.
Flight was placed on the 'A-List' of Conservative Party candidates ahead of the 2010 general election, but this failed to secure him a new seat. On 19 November 2010, it was announced that Flight was to be created a life peer
and sit as a Conservative
in the House of Lords
. His full title is Baron Flight of Worcester in the County of Worcester.
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...
politician in the United Kingdom
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...
and a member of the House of Lords
House 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....
. He was 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 Arundel and South Downs
Arundel and South Downs
Arundel and South Downs 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:...
from 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
to 2005
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. He held several Shadow posts: Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury
Economic Secretary to the Treasury
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury is the fifth most senior ministerial post in the UK Treasury, after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Paymaster-General and the Financial Secretary...
1999-2001, Shadow Paymaster General to 2002, then Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is the third most senior ministerial position in HM Treasury, after the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer . In recent years, the office holder has usually been given a junior position in the British Cabinet...
.
Early and personal life
Flight was educated at Brentwood School, Magdalene College, CambridgeMagdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
's Ross School of Business
Ross School of Business
The Stephen M. Ross School of Business is the business school of the University of Michigan. Numerous publications have ranked the Ross School of Business' Bachelor of Business Administration , Master of Business Administration and Executive Education programs among the top in the country and the...
. From 1970 to 1998 he worked as an investment adviser and director in various banks. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament for Bermondsey
Bermondsey (UK Parliament constituency)
Bermondsey was a borough constituency centred on the Bermondsey district of South London, England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in the February
United Kingdom general election, February 1974
The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...
and October 1974 general elections
United Kingdom general election, October 1974
The United Kingdom general election of October 1974 took place on 10 October 1974 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. It was the second general election of that year and resulted in the Labour Party led by Harold Wilson, winning by a tiny majority of 3 seats.The election of...
. Flight is author of All you Need to know about Exchange Rates (1989), and contributor to the book The City in Europe and the World
The City in Europe and the World
The City in Europe and the World is a 2005 collection of essays examining the relationship between the City of London's financial markets, politics, government, and Europe, edited by Stephen Barber and with a foreword by Peter Mandelson....
(2005). He has been married to Christabel since 1974; they have four children: Kitty, Thomas, Josie and Maryanne.
Spending controversy
Flight resigned as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party on 24 March 2005, following comments made at a Conservative Way ForwardConservative Way Forward
Conservative Way Forward is a British campaigning group that operates within the Conservative Party. It is a Thatcherite group in outlook and agenda, and Baroness Thatcher herself is the President....
meeting that was being secretly recorded. In the meeting he stated that the Conservatives in office could make more spending cuts than they were promising in their campaign before the general election. Conservative leader Michael Howard
Michael Howard
Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne, CH, QC, PC is a British politician, who served as the Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from November 2003 to December 2005...
then withdrew the party whip, and announced that Flight was no longer an approved candidate and could not contest the Arundel and South Downs seat as a Conservative party candidate at the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. Flight refused to accept this, maintaining that only his local party branch has the right to deselect him. On 29 March 2005, he announced that he had an opinion from a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, confirming his view. The Arundel and South Downs Conservative branch initially refused to seek a new candidate, though they reversed their position when threatened with the 'Slough treatment', referring to the suspension of that association for refusing to deselect Adrian Hilton
Adrian Hilton
Adrian Hilton is an English Conservative politician who gained media attention during the 2005 general election.Hilton was acting assistant principal and faculty head at Slough Grammar School...
. Amid speculation, Flight confirmed that he would not stand as an independent and would not oppose any decision by the local association to deselect him.
Elections
On 6 April, he agreed to give up his attempts to continue as a Conservative candidate and his party began the process of selecting a new candidate. Anne Marie Morris, Laura SandysLaura Sandys
Laura Jane Sandys is a British Conservative Party politician. She has been the Member of Parliament for South Thanet since the general election on 6 May 2010.-Early life:...
and Nick Herbert put themselves forward for nomination as replacement candidates. The chosen candidate, Nick Herbert
Nick Herbert
Nicholas Le Quesne "Nick" Herbert is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Arundel and South Downs...
, won the seat at the election.
Flight was placed on the 'A-List' of Conservative Party candidates ahead of the 2010 general election, but this failed to secure him a new seat. On 19 November 2010, it was announced that Flight was to be created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
and sit as a 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...
in the House of Lords
House 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....
. His full title is Baron Flight of Worcester in the County of Worcester.