Neil Kinnock

The Right Honourable Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock, PC (born 28 March, 1942) is a British politician. He was an MP from 1970 to 1995, and was the leader of the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992, when he resigned after the 1992 general election defeat. He subsequently served as a member of the European Commission from 1995 until 2004, and is now head of the British Council.

Life Peerage

He was introduced to the House of Lords on 31 January 2005, after being created Baron Kinnock, of Bedwellty in the County of Gwent. On assuming his seat he stated, "I accepted the kind invitation to enter the House of Lords as a working peer for practical political reasons." When his peerage was first announced, he said "It will give me the opportunity... to contribute to the national debate on issues like higher education, research, Europe and foreign policy." His peerage means that the Labour and Conservative parties are now equal in numbers in the upper house of Parliament.

Related Topics:
House of Lords - 31 January - 2005 - Working peer

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BBC Article on his Introduction to the House

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