Michael Ancram

The Most Honourable Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian, PC, QC, MP (born on July 7, 1945), known as Michael Ancram, is a British Conservative Party politician. He is Member of Parliament for Devizes, Shadow Defence Secretary, and Deputy Leader in the Shadow Cabinet.

Related Topics:
The Most Honourable - PC - July 7 - 1945 - Conservative Party - Politician - Member of Parliament - Devizes - Defence Secretary - Shadow Cabinet

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For many years, he was occasionally referred to as the Earl of Ancram, as son and heir of the 12th Marquess of Lothian, but he preferred to be known as Michael Ancram. He inherited his father's title upon his death in 2004, but does not use it. Ancram was educated at Ampleforth College (sometimes known as The Catholic Eton), Christ Church, Oxford (BA History 1966, MA) and Edinburgh University (LLB 1968).

Related Topics:
Earl of Ancram - 12th Marquess of Lothian - 2004 - Ampleforth College - Christ Church, Oxford - Edinburgh University

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He married a fellow Roman Catholic, Lady Jane Fitzalan-Howard (a daughter of the 16th Duke of Norfolk) in 1975 and they have two daughters. Previously an Advocate on the Scottish Bar, he unsuccessfully contested the East Lothian parliamentary seat in 1970. He won Berwick and East Lothian in the February 1974 election, only to lose it again in October, then represented Edinburgh South during the Conservative glory years of 1979-87. He has been Member of Parliament for Devizes in Wiltshire since April 1992.

Related Topics:
16th Duke of Norfolk - Berwick and East Lothian - February 1974 election - October - Edinburgh South - Member of Parliament - Devizes - Wiltshire

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He was a member of the British House of Commons Energy Select Committee between 1979 and 1983, and Chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party from 1980 to 1983. He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Scottish Office with responsibility for Home Affairs, Housing, Local Government, Rating Reform and the Environment from 1983 until 1987.

Related Topics:
British House of Commons - Chairman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State - Scottish Office - Home Affairs - Housing - Local Government - Environment

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He was a member of the Public Accounts Committee and Chairman of the Backbench Constitutional Affairs Committee from 1992 until May 1993, when he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office. He was promoted to Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office in January 1994, and was made a Privy Councillor in January 1996.

Related Topics:
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State - Northern Ireland Office - Minister of State - Privy Council

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After the Conservatives' defeat at the 1997 election he served in the Shadow Cabinet as Constitutional Affairs Spokesman from June 1997 to June 1998, and as Chairman of the Conservative Party from October 1998 to September 2001.

Related Topics:
1997 election - Shadow Cabinet - Conservative Party

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In 2001, he stood against Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Portillo, Kenneth Clarke and David Davis for the party leadership. In the first poll he and David Davis were tied for last place, leading to a re-run in which Ancram was placed bottom. He was eliminated, and Davis withdrew. Both swung their support behind Iain Duncan Smith, who went on to win, beating Clarke and Portillo in the second round. Duncan Smith made Ancram Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in September 2001. He remained in this position after Michael Howard took over in 2003.

Related Topics:
2001 - Iain Duncan Smith - Michael Portillo - Kenneth Clarke - David Davis - Michael Howard - 2003

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In the reshuffle following the 2005 election Ancram was moved to Shadow Secretary of State for Defence but remained the Deputy Leader.

Related Topics:
2005 - Deputy Leader

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