Ian Lang
Encyclopedia
Ian Bruce Lang, Baron Lang of Monkton PC
(born 27 June 1940) is a former British
Conservative MP for Galloway
from 1979 to 1983 and for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
from 1983 to 1997.
Lang was made a life peer
as 'Baron Lang of Monkton' of Merrick and the Rhinns of Kells in Dumfries
and Galloway
in September 1997 and is currently chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
.
In May 2011, Lang became chairman of the board of directors
of Marsh & McLennan Companies
, Inc.
and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
, where he was a member of the Cambridge Footlights.
constituency), Lang was defeated by James White (Labour). Following this he became MP for Galloway
from 1979 to 1983 and for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
from 1983 to 1997 and was a minister for a number of years. He served as a Government whip
from 1981 to 1986, Under-Secretary of State for Employment (1986), Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (1986–1987) and Minister of State
for Scotland (1987–1990). He joined the Cabinet
as Secretary of State for Scotland
from 1990 to 1995, and then President of the Board of Trade (and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry) until 1997. He was closely involved in John Major
's re-election campaign as leader of the Conservative Party in July 1995.
Lang lost his seat in the 1997 general election
, one of seven Cabinet members to do so (the others being Malcolm Rifkind
, Michael Portillo
, Michael Forsyth
, Roger Freeman
, William Waldegrave
and Tony Newton
).
Lang is chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
.
As chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
, Lang insisted that Tony Blair
's paid work for UI Energy Corporation
, an oil firm with interests in Iraq
, just 14 months after leaving office should be made public following a period when the committee agreed to keep it confidential due to "market sensitivity".
Since 1997, Lang has been a member of the Board of Directors of Marsh & McLennan Companies
.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(born 27 June 1940) is a former British
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...
Conservative MP for Galloway
Galloway (UK Parliament constituency)
Galloway was a county constituency in the Galloway area of Scotland. It elected one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system....
from 1979 to 1983 and for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (UK Parliament constituency)
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale was a county constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system....
from 1983 to 1997.
Lang was made 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...
as 'Baron Lang of Monkton' of Merrick and the Rhinns of Kells in Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
and Galloway
Galloway
Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
in September 1997 and is currently chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is an non-departmental public body in the UK, which was set up in 1975 to provide advice on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments after they leave Crown service. Since 1995 it has also provided...
.
In May 2011, Lang became chairman of the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Marsh & McLennan Companies
Marsh & McLennan Companies
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. is a US-based global professional services and insurance brokerage firm. In 2007, it had over 57,000 employees and annual revenues of $10.49 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies was ranked the 221st largest corporation in the United States by the 2009 Fortune 500...
, Inc.
Early life
Lang was educated at RugbyRugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
, where he was a member of the Cambridge Footlights.
Career
In the April 1974 general election (Glasgow PollokGlasgow Pollok (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Pollok was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 2005, when it was replaced by Glasgow South West...
constituency), Lang was defeated by James White (Labour). Following this he became MP for Galloway
Galloway (UK Parliament constituency)
Galloway was a county constituency in the Galloway area of Scotland. It elected one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system....
from 1979 to 1983 and for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (UK Parliament constituency)
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale was a county constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system....
from 1983 to 1997 and was a minister for a number of years. He served as a Government whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
from 1981 to 1986, Under-Secretary of State for Employment (1986), Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (1986–1987) and Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
for Scotland (1987–1990). He joined the Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
as Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
from 1990 to 1995, and then President of the Board of Trade (and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry) until 1997. He was closely involved in John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
's re-election campaign as leader of the Conservative Party in July 1995.
Lang lost his seat in the 1997 general election
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...
, one of seven Cabinet members to do so (the others being Malcolm Rifkind
Malcolm Rifkind
Sir Malcolm Leslie Rifkind KCMG QC MP is a British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament for Kensington. He served in various roles as a cabinet minister under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including Secretary of State for Scotland , Defence Secretary and...
, Michael Portillo
Michael Portillo
Michael Denzil Xavier Portillo is a British journalist, broadcaster, and former Conservative Party politician and Cabinet Minister...
, Michael Forsyth
Michael Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of Drumlean
Michael Bruce Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of Drumlean PC, Kt is a British financier and politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Stirling from 1983 to 1997 and served in the cabinet of John Major as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1995 to 1997...
, Roger Freeman
Roger Freeman, Baron Freeman
Roger Norman Freeman, Baron Freeman, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the Cabinet of Prime Minister John Major from 1995 to 1997...
, William Waldegrave
William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill
William Arthur Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill, PC , is an English Conservative politician who served in the Cabinet from 1990 until 1997 and is a Life Member of the Tory Reform Group. He is now a life peer. Lord Waldegrave is also the Chairman of the Rhodes Trust and the Chairman of...
and Tony Newton
Tony Newton
Antony Harold "Tony" Newton, Baron Newton of Braintree, PC, OBE , is a British Conservative politician and former Cabinet member...
).
Lang is chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is an non-departmental public body in the UK, which was set up in 1975 to provide advice on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments after they leave Crown service. Since 1995 it has also provided...
.
As chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is an non-departmental public body in the UK, which was set up in 1975 to provide advice on applications from the most senior Crown servants who wish to take up outside appointments after they leave Crown service. Since 1995 it has also provided...
, Lang insisted that Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
's paid work for UI Energy Corporation
UI Energy Corporation
UI Energy Corporation is a Korean company founded in 1987 . Its areas of interest include the development of resources and minerals, power plants and the supply of medical equipments...
, an oil firm with interests in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, just 14 months after leaving office should be made public following a period when the committee agreed to keep it confidential due to "market sensitivity".
Since 1997, Lang has been a member of the Board of Directors of Marsh & McLennan Companies
Marsh & McLennan Companies
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. is a US-based global professional services and insurance brokerage firm. In 2007, it had over 57,000 employees and annual revenues of $10.49 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies was ranked the 221st largest corporation in the United States by the 2009 Fortune 500...
.