Michael Trend
Encyclopedia
Michael St John Trend, CBE
(born 19 April 1952 in Greenwich
) is a former Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
.
, then went to Oriel College, Oxford where he gained an MA in Modern History. He became a journalist for The Times Literary Supplement
, History Today
and The Spectator
. He was chief leader writer for the Daily Telegraph from 1990-2.
as Member of Parliament
for Windsor and Maidenhead
in Berkshire
. When that constituency was abolished for the 1997 election
, he was returned for the new Windsor constituency
.
Trend was a frontbench spokesman and Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of the Conservative Party until 2000. He was Chairman of the party's International Office until September 2005 and has done extensive democracy building work in much of the former Soviet Union and also in Africa.
The Committee ruled that "Mr Trend should have recognised that, by claiming Additional Costs Allowance in relation to his Windsor home, the taxpayer was meeting some of the core running costs of what was in reality his main residence. He should have realised that this was wrong. Accordingly, we agree with the Commissioner that Mr Trend was negligent and has breached the Code of Conduct by making improper use of the Additional Costs Allowance and by failing strictly to observe the administrative rules relating to the Allowance."
(Ref: Standards and Privileges - Third Report publication ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 12 February 2003).
. They have a son and two daughters. For many years he was the organist of his local church.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 19 April 1952 in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
) is a former Conservative Party
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 in the United Kingdom
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...
.
Early life
He is the son of Lord Trend, the former Cabinet Secretary. He attended the independent Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, then went to Oriel College, Oxford where he gained an MA in Modern History. He became a journalist for The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement is a weekly literary review published in London by News International, a subsidiary of News Corporation.-History:...
, History Today
History Today
History Today is an illustrated history magazine. Published monthly in London since January 1951, it is the world's leading, and possibly oldest, history magazine. Its successful mission has always been to present serious and authoritative history to as wide a public as possible...
and The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
. He was chief leader writer for the Daily Telegraph from 1990-2.
Parliamentary career
He was elected at the 1992 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Windsor and Maidenhead
Windsor and Maidenhead (UK Parliament constituency)
Windsor and Maidenhead was a county constituency in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. When that constituency was abolished for the 1997 election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, he was returned for the new Windsor constituency
Windsor (UK Parliament constituency)
Windsor is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. In its modern form, it elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.-Boundaries:...
.
Trend was a frontbench spokesman and Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of the Conservative Party until 2000. He was Chairman of the party's International Office until September 2005 and has done extensive democracy building work in much of the former Soviet Union and also in Africa.
Fraudulent expenses claim
In 2003 Trend was found guilty of abusing the allowances system and ordered to repay £90,277. He was briefly suspended from parliament and did not stand again at the following election. Trend claimed he "believed that I could properly continue to designate London as 'home' for the purposes of ACA, even though, in domestic terms, Windsor had become my "main residence"." It was not accepted. There was no doubt in the Standard's Committee's minds that there was no "real scope for doubt that the words "main residence" were intended to have other than their natural meaning."The Committee ruled that "Mr Trend should have recognised that, by claiming Additional Costs Allowance in relation to his Windsor home, the taxpayer was meeting some of the core running costs of what was in reality his main residence. He should have realised that this was wrong. Accordingly, we agree with the Commissioner that Mr Trend was negligent and has breached the Code of Conduct by making improper use of the Additional Costs Allowance and by failing strictly to observe the administrative rules relating to the Allowance."
(Ref: Standards and Privileges - Third Report publication ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 12 February 2003).
Personal life
He has written extensively about music. He married Jill Kershaw in February 1987 in WestminsterWestminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
. They have a son and two daughters. For many years he was the organist of his local church.