Alistair McAlpine, Baron McAlpine of West Green
Encyclopedia
Robert Alistair McAlpine, Baron McAlpine of West Green (born 14 May 1942), is often known as Alistair McAlpine.
He became a life peer
in 1984 as Baron McAlpine of West Green of West Green in the County of Hampshire
. In the 1990s he had a high-profile business collapse in Australia
.
McAlpine was a prominent Conservative
peer, close in his views to Margaret Thatcher
. He had been both Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party. In 1996, he defected to James Goldsmith
's Referendum Party
and in 1997 became its leader following Goldsmith's death. He sat as an Independent Conservative for some time in the House of Lords
before rejoining the Conservatives. In 2010 he stepped down from his seat in the House of Lords in order to maintain his non-domiciled status and so be able to avoid paying UK residents' taxes.
A bon vivant, patron of the arts and author, he pursued these interests with considerable vigour. He founded his own publishing house in London in the 1960s, and has variously been an art dealer, collector, member of the Arts Council, zookeeper (in Broome, Western Australia
), gardener and traveller.
He became 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...
in 1984 as Baron McAlpine of West Green of West Green in the County of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. In the 1990s he had a high-profile business collapse in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
McAlpine was a prominent 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...
peer, close in his views to Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. He had been both Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party. In 1996, he defected to James Goldsmith
James Goldsmith
Sir James Michael "Jimmy" Goldsmith was an Anglo-French billionaire financier and tycoon. Towards the end of his life, he became a magazine publisher and a politician. In 1994, he was elected to represent France as a Member of the European Parliament and he subsequently founded the short-lived...
's Referendum Party
Referendum Party
The Referendum Party was a Euro-sceptic, single issue party in the United Kingdom formed by Sir James Goldsmith to fight the 1997 General Election. The party called for a referendum on aspects of the UK's relationship with the European Union.-Policy:...
and in 1997 became its leader following Goldsmith's death. He sat as an Independent Conservative for some time in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
before rejoining the Conservatives. In 2010 he stepped down from his seat in the House of Lords in order to maintain his non-domiciled status and so be able to avoid paying UK residents' taxes.
A bon vivant, patron of the arts and author, he pursued these interests with considerable vigour. He founded his own publishing house in London in the 1960s, and has variously been an art dealer, collector, member of the Arts Council, zookeeper (in Broome, Western Australia
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
), gardener and traveller.