Keith Moffitt
Encyclopedia
Keith Moffitt is a British
Liberal Democrat
local government
Politician
. He has been a Councillor
for West Hampstead
since 1994, and in the local elections of May 2006
became the first ever Liberal Democrat Leader
of Camden London Borough Council
, ending Labour's
35 year hold on the borough.
In the May 2010 local elections
, Moffitt was re-elected for his West Hampstead seat, but removed as Council leader as Labour re-took control of the borough. Following the delayed Haverstock
elections, which gave his party a higher number of seats than the Conservatives
, he serves as Leader of the Opposition.
to represent London
in the European Parliament
.
Before becoming leader of the council Moffitt worked as a translator
, and is Vice-Chair of the Chartered Institute of Linguists
.
He previously had a 20-year career with British Coal
, working in International Relations and European Community affairs, and was Chairman of the United Nations
Working Party on Coal Trade from 1986 to 1992.
In 2006 Moffitt suspended his professional career in order to focus on his new role leading Camden Council.
in his first year of office and, together with his Conservative coalition partners, honored this pledge through the Council's "Better and Cheaper" agenda. This cost-cutting programme attracted significant criticism from the opposition Labour party.
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...
Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
Politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He has been a Councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
for West Hampstead
West Hampstead
West Hampstead is an area in northwest London, England, situated between Childs Hill to the north, Frognal and Hampstead to the north-east, Swiss Cottage to the east, and South Hampstead to the south. Until the late 19th century, the locale was a small village called West End...
since 1994, and in the local elections of May 2006
Camden Council election, 2006
The 2006 Camden Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Camden London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election and the Labour party lost overall control of the council to no overall control.-Background:...
became the first ever Liberal Democrat Leader
Leader
A leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...
of Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London...
, ending Labour's
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...
35 year hold on the borough.
In the May 2010 local elections
Camden Council election, 2010
The 2010 Camden Council election took place on 6 May 2010 to elect members of Camden London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election and the Labour party gained overall control of the council from no overall control....
, Moffitt was re-elected for his West Hampstead seat, but removed as Council leader as Labour re-took control of the borough. Following the delayed Haverstock
Haverstock
Haverstock is an area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Camden. It is centred around Haverstock Hill and Chalk Farm, with Gospel Oak to the north; Kentish Town to the east; Camden Town to the south, and Swiss Cottage to the west....
elections, which gave his party a higher number of seats than the Conservatives
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...
, he serves as Leader of the Opposition.
Career
Moffitt speaks fluent French, German and Portuguese. In 2004 he ran in the European electionsEuropean Parliament election, 2004
Elections to the European Parliament were held from 10 June 2004 to 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom...
to represent London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
Before becoming leader of the council Moffitt worked as a translator
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
, and is Vice-Chair of the Chartered Institute of Linguists
Chartered Institute of Linguists
The Chartered Institute of Linguists, also known as the Institute of Linguists, IOL and IoL , is a British professional and learned society for education that was founded in 1910. It serves to promote proficiency in modern languages worldwide...
.
He previously had a 20-year career with British Coal
British Coal
thumb|right|British Coal company logoThe British Coal Corporation was a nationalised corporation in the United Kingdom responsible for the extraction of coal...
, working in International Relations and European Community affairs, and was Chairman of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Working Party on Coal Trade from 1986 to 1992.
In 2006 Moffitt suspended his professional career in order to focus on his new role leading Camden Council.
Policies
Moffitt campaigned on a platform of freezing the Council TaxCouncil tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
in his first year of office and, together with his Conservative coalition partners, honored this pledge through the Council's "Better and Cheaper" agenda. This cost-cutting programme attracted significant criticism from the opposition Labour party.