Tom Sawyer, Baron Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Lawrence "Tom" Sawyer, Baron Sawyer (born 12 May 1943) is a British
trade unionist and Labour Party
politician. He was General Secretary of the Labour Party
from 1994 to 1998.
Sawyer was educated at Dodmire School, Eastbourne Comprehensive School and Darlington Technical College.
After his education, Sawyer worked in engineering, before moving into trade unionism. He became a National Union of Public Employees
(NUPE) Officer in 1971, becoming their Northern Regional Officer in 1975.
In 1981, he was made Deputy General Secretary
of NUPE and served through its merger to become UNISON
until 1994. In this role he served as a National Executive Committee
Member of the Labour Party between 1981 and 1994 and was made Chair of the Party in 1991.
In 1994, Sawyer became General Secretary of the Labour Party and led the Party successfully into the 1997 General Election
. He stood down at the 1998 Party Conference and was created a Life Peer
as Baron Sawyer, of Darlington in the County of Durham. He is now a director of several companies and public sector bodies.
In November 2004, it was announced that Lord Sawyer would become the next chancellor
of the University of Teesside
, replacing former Conservative
MP and member of the European Commission
, Leon Brittan.
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...
trade unionist and Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician. He was General Secretary of the Labour Party
General Secretary of the Labour Party
The General Secretary is the most senior employee of the British Labour Party, and acts as the non-voting secretary to the National Executive Committee...
from 1994 to 1998.
Sawyer was educated at Dodmire School, Eastbourne Comprehensive School and Darlington Technical College.
After his education, Sawyer worked in engineering, before moving into trade unionism. He became a National Union of Public Employees
National Union of Public Employees
The National Union of Public Employees was a British trade union which represented public sector workers. The union was founded in 1908 as the National Union of Corporation Workers, which split from the Municipal Employees Association, following Albin Taylor's dismissal as General Secretary...
(NUPE) Officer in 1971, becoming their Northern Regional Officer in 1975.
In 1981, he was made Deputy General Secretary
General Secretary
The office of general secretary is staffed by the chief officer of:*The General Secretariat for Macedonia and Thrace, a government agency for the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace...
of NUPE and served through its merger to become UNISON
UNISON
UNISON is the largest trade union in the United Kingdom with over 1.3 million members.The union was formed in 1993 when three public sector trade unions, the National and Local Government Officers Association , the National Union of Public Employees and the Confederation of Health Service...
until 1994. In this role he served as a National Executive Committee
National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. Its composition has changed over the years, and includes representatives of affiliated trade unions, the Parliamentary Labour Party and European Parliamentary Labour Party, Constituency Labour Parties,...
Member of the Labour Party between 1981 and 1994 and was made Chair of the Party in 1991.
In 1994, Sawyer became General Secretary of the Labour Party and led the Party successfully into 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...
. He stood down at the 1998 Party Conference and was 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...
as Baron Sawyer, of Darlington in the County of Durham. He is now a director of several companies and public sector bodies.
In November 2004, it was announced that Lord Sawyer would become the next chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University of Teesside
University of Teesside
Teesside University is a university in Middlesbrough, England. It has a student body of 29,285 students as of the 2009/10 academic year. It recorded rises in applications of 25.1 per cent and 23.5 per cent for degree courses beginning in 2010, the highest such percentage increases of the five...
, replacing former 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...
MP and member of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, Leon Brittan.
External links
- Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 14 October 1998