Michael Lucas, 2nd Baron Lucas of Chilworth
Encyclopedia
Michael William George Lucas, 2nd Baron Lucas of Chilworth (26 April 1926-10 November 2001), was a British
peer and Conservative
politician.
politician, and his wife, the former Sonia Finkelstein, a scion of a family prominent in the Latvian fishing industry. He was educated at Peter Symonds College
, Winchester
, and at the Luton Technical College, where he studied motor engineering. He served with the Royal Tank Regiment
after the Second World War and later joined the family car dealership.
. An active member of the House of Lords, he served on the Select Committee on Science and Technology from 1980 to 1983. The latter year he was appointed a Lord-in-Waiting
(government whip in the House of Lords) in the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher
, and then served as Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry between 1984 and 1987. He stepped down from the government after the 1987 general election
, but continued to be active in the House of Lords. However, he was forced to leave Parliament after the House of Lords Act of 1999, when he narrowly failed to be elected as one of the ninety elected hereditary peer
s that were allowed to remain in the House of Lords. Apart from his political work, Lucas also served as President of the League of Safe Drivers from 1976 to 1980 and of the Institute of Transport Administration from 1980 to 1983 and of the Institute of Transport Administration from 1980 to 1983.
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...
peer and 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...
politician.
Background and education
Lucas was the eldest son of George William Lucas, 1st Baron Lucas of Chilworth, a prominent figure in the motor trade industry and LabourLabour 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...
politician, and his wife, the former Sonia Finkelstein, a scion of a family prominent in the Latvian fishing industry. He was educated at Peter Symonds College
Peter Symonds College
Peter Symonds College is a sixth form college in Winchester, Hampshire, in the south of England. It is one of the largest sixth form colleges in Britain.-Admissions:...
, Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, and at the Luton Technical College, where he studied motor engineering. He served with the Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
after the Second World War and later joined the family car dealership.
Political career
In 1967 Lucas succeeded his father as second Baron Lucas of Chilworth and took his seat on the Conservative benches in the House of LordsHouse 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....
. An active member of the House of Lords, he served on the Select Committee on Science and Technology from 1980 to 1983. The latter year he was appointed a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
(government whip in the House of Lords) in the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, and then served as Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry between 1984 and 1987. He stepped down from the government after the 1987 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
, but continued to be active in the House of Lords. However, he was forced to leave Parliament after the House of Lords Act of 1999, when he narrowly failed to be elected as one of the ninety elected hereditary peer
Hereditary peer
Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...
s that were allowed to remain in the House of Lords. Apart from his political work, Lucas also served as President of the League of Safe Drivers from 1976 to 1980 and of the Institute of Transport Administration from 1980 to 1983 and of the Institute of Transport Administration from 1980 to 1983.