Matthew Oakeshott, Baron Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
Encyclopedia
Matthew Alan Oakeshott, Baron Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay (born 10 January 1947), is a British
Liberal Democrat
politician.
, a co-educational independent school
in Godalming
in Surrey
, followed by University College
at the University of Oxford
, from which he graduated in 1968 in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
from 1968 to 1970. During 1970 to 1972, he undertook post-graduate studies at Nuffield College
, University of Oxford
, though without completing a graduate degree. He served during the latter period as a member of the Oxford City Council
, elected as a then-member of the Labour Party.
From 1972 to 1976, Oakeshott was Special Adviser to Roy Jenkins
, initially a "Chocolate Soldier
" and later funded by Short Money
. After this be became director of Warburg Investment Management, a post he held until 1981. Following this, he worked as manager for Courtaulds
Pension Fund until 1985. One year later, he became founder director of OLIM Ltd. and investment director of Value and Income Trust.
He was made a life peer
as Baron Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, of Seagrove Bay in the County of Isle of Wight
on 1 May 2000. He is currently on the advisory board of the liberal CentreForum
think-tank, and was the Liberal Democrats' Treasury Spokesman in the Lords until February 2011. He stood down by "mutual agreement" after he described the government's Project Merlin
deal with the banks over lending and bonuses as "pitiful".
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...
Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
politician.
Education
Oakeshott was educated at Charterhouse SchoolCharterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
, a co-educational independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in Godalming
Godalming
Godalming is a town and civil parish in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, south of Guildford. It is built on the banks of the River Wey and is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt. Godalming shares a three-way twinning arrangement with the towns of Joigny in France...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, followed by University College
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
at the University of 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...
, from which he graduated in 1968 in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Life and career
Oakeshott worked in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
from 1968 to 1970. During 1970 to 1972, he undertook post-graduate studies at Nuffield College
Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college and primarily a research establishment, specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics and sociology. It is a research centre in the social sciences...
, University of 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...
, though without completing a graduate degree. He served during the latter period as a member of the Oxford City Council
Oxford City Council
The Oxford City Council provides local government for the city of Oxford in England.- Overview :Between the 2004 local elections, and 2010 the council was in minority administration, first by councillors from the Labour Party, with the Liberal Democrats being the official opposition...
, elected as a then-member of the Labour Party.
From 1972 to 1976, Oakeshott was Special Adviser to Roy Jenkins
Roy Jenkins
Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in...
, initially a "Chocolate Soldier
Chocolate Soldier (Parliament)
A Chocolate Soldier was a Parliamentary assistant for an Opposition front bench spokesman in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in the early 1970s, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Social Service Trust .The scheme was a pilot project to assist the Opposition to carry out out their...
" and later funded by Short Money
Short Money
Short Money is the common name given to the annual payment to Opposition parties in the United Kingdom House of Commons to help them with their costs. It is named after Edward Short , the-then Leader of the House of Commons who first proposed the payments...
. After this be became director of Warburg Investment Management, a post he held until 1981. Following this, he worked as manager for Courtaulds
Courtaulds
Courtaulds was a United Kingdom-based manufacturer of fabric, clothing, artificial fibres, and chemicals.-Foundation:The Company was founded by George Courtauld and his cousin Peter Taylor in 1794 as a silk, crepe and textile business at Pebmarsh in north Essex trading as George Courtauld & Co...
Pension Fund until 1985. One year later, he became founder director of OLIM Ltd. and investment director of Value and Income Trust.
He 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 Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, of Seagrove Bay in the County of Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
on 1 May 2000. He is currently on the advisory board of the liberal CentreForum
CentreForum
CentreForum is an independent, liberal think-tank that seeks to develop evidence-based, long-term policy solutions to the problems facing Britain. It is based in Westminster, London, and was formerly known as Centre for Reform....
think-tank, and was the Liberal Democrats' Treasury Spokesman in the Lords until February 2011. He stood down by "mutual agreement" after he described the government's Project Merlin
Project Merlin
Project Merlin is an agreement between the British Government of David Cameron and four of the major high street banks in the United Kingdom. These banks are Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, the Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC...
deal with the banks over lending and bonuses as "pitiful".