Alastair Goodlad

Alastair Robertson Goodlad, Baron Goodlad KCMG PC (born 4 July 1943)[1] is a British Conservative politician who served as the British High Commissioner to Australia from 2000 until 2005.

The Right Honourable

The Lord Goodlad

KCMG PC
Goodlad in 2018
British High Commissioner to Australia
In office
1 January 2000 – 1 September 2005
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byAlex Allan
Succeeded byHelen Liddell
Chief Whip of the House of Commons
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
In office
20 July 1995 – 2 May 1997
Prime MinisterJohn Major
Preceded byRichard Ryder
Succeeded byNick Brown
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
In office
15 April 1992 – 20 July 1995
Prime MinisterJohn Major
Preceded byThe Earl of Caithness
Succeeded byJeremy Hanley
Deputy Chief Government Whip
Treasurer of the Household
In office
14 July 1990 – 15 April 1992
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
John Major
Preceded byTristan Garel-Jones
Succeeded byDavid Heathcoat-Amory
Comptroller of the Household
In office
25 July 1989 – 14 July 1990
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byTristan Garel-Jones
Succeeded byGeorge Young
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy
In office
11 September 1984 – 13 June 1987
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byGiles Shaw
Succeeded byMichael Spicer
Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
In office
16 February 1982 – 10 September 1984
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byTony Newton
Succeeded byJohn Major
Assistant Government Whip
In office
9 January 1981 – 5 February 1982
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Shadow Cabinet positions
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
In office
30 June 1997 – 1 June 1998
LeaderWilliam Hague
Preceded byClare Short
Succeeded byGary Streeter
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
In office
2 May 1997 – 30 June 1997
LeaderJohn Major
Preceded byAnn Taylor
Succeeded byGillian Shephard
Opposition Chief Whip of the House of Commons
In office
2 May 1997 – 23 June 1997
LeaderJohn Major
Preceded byDonald Dewar
Succeeded byJames Arbuthnot
Parliamentary representation
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
20 July 2005
Life Peerage
Member of Parliament
for Eddisbury
Northwich (1974–1983)
In office
28 February 1974 – 28 June 1999
Preceded byJohn Foster
Succeeded byStephen O'Brien
Personal details
Born (1943-07-04) 4 July 1943
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Cecilia Hurst
Alma materKing's College, Cambridge

Early life

Goodlad attended Marlborough College and studied law at King's College, Cambridge.

Parliamentary career

Goodlad first stood for Parliament in 1970 when he contested Crewe, but was beaten by Labour's Scholefield Allen.

He was Member of Parliament successively for Northwich (1974–83) and Eddisbury (1983–99), Goodlad also served as a junior Foreign Office Minister then as Prime Minister John Major's Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip for which in the 1997 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours he was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG).[2] Following the 1997 election, he served in the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development and Opposition Chief Whip.

Membership of Lloyd's of London

Goodlad was an underwriting member of the Lloyd's of London insurance market, commencing in 1977 and ceasing in 1990. His membership coincided in the latter years with the rising tide of asbestos losses and his share is estimated to have been about £90,000.

High Commissioner to Australia

Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair then appointed Goodlad as High Commissioner to Australia. Goodlad accepted the office of Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds on 28 June 1999 to formally vacate his parliamentary seat,[3] triggering the 1999 Eddisbury by-election.

Goodlad took up office as High Commissioner in 2000. At the end of his term in 2005, he was replaced by former Secretary of State for Scotland, Helen Liddell.

House of Lords

On 19 July 2005, he was created a life peer as Baron Goodlad, of Lincoln in the County of Lincolnshire,[4] and was introduced in the House of Lords the following day.[5] He sits on the Conservative benches and was chairman of the Constitution Select Committee from 2008 to 2010.

In 2007, Goodlad was appointed Chairman of the Britain–Australia Society.

Family

Goodlad married Cecilia Hurst in 1968 and has two sons.

Notes
  1. http://www.leighrayment.com/peers/peersG2.htm
  2. "No. 54850". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 August 1997. p. 8912.
  3. "No. 55544". The London Gazette. 6 July 1999. p. 7313.
  4. "No. 57710". The London Gazette. 22 July 2005. p. 9525.
  5. House of Lords Minutes of Proceedings for Wednesday 20 July 2005. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
John Foster		 Member of Parliament
for Northwich
1974–1983		 Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament
for Eddisbury
1983–1999		 Succeeded by
Stephen O'Brien
Political offices
Preceded by
Tristan Garel-Jones		 Comptroller of the Household
1989–1990		 Succeeded by
Sir George Young
Treasurer of the Household
1990–1992		 Succeeded by
David Heathcoat-Amory
Preceded by
Richard Ryder		 Government Chief Whip in the Commons
1995–1997		 Succeeded by
Nick Brown
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
1995–1997
Preceded by
Ann Taylor		 Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
1997		 Succeeded by
Gillian Shephard
Preceded by
Clare Short		 Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
1997–1998		 Succeeded by
Gary Streeter
Party political offices
Preceded by
Richard Ryder		 Conservative Chief Whip of the House of Commons
1995–1997		 Succeeded by
James Arbuthnot
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Alex Allan		 British High Commissioner to Australia
1999–2005		 Succeeded by
Helen Liddell
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