Richard Page
Encyclopedia
Richard Lewis Page is a former Conservative
Member of Parliament
(MP) in the United Kingdom
from 1976 to 1979 and from December 1979 to 2005.
in West Sussex
and Luton Technical College (became Luton College of Higher Education
in the 1970s), gaining an HNC
in Mechanical Engineering in 1962. He was an apprentice at Vauxhall Motors
in Luton
from 1959 to 1963, then worked for Page Holdings, becoming the Chairman from 1985 to 1995 and 1997 onwards.
From 1968to 1971, he was a district councillor in Banstead
, Surrey
.
in 1979, having previously been MP for Workington
from the by-election
caused by the elevation of Fred Peart to the House of Lords
in 1976 until losing the seat in the 1979 general election
. One of a handful of MPs who have been successful in two by-elections.He had contested the Workington seat in the February and October 1974 elections. Private Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State for Trade 81−83 and then to the Leader of the House (John Biffen) 83−87. He was a junior minister DTI under [John Major] with responsibility for small business, alternative energy, biotechnology, coal, oil and BNFL. Lead minister in the privatisation of AEA Technology. Used his knowledge of the private members ballot procedure to be successful with two private members bills from the single private members ballot slot. Moved a 10 minute rule bill to reduce the number of MP.s claiming it could allow MPs to be better paid and save the state money. Member of the Public Accounts Committee for over seven years. Governor of the Foundation for Western Democracy 1998−2001. International Chairman Central Office 1999−2001. Shadow Spokesman DTI 2001−2003. Joint Chairman All Party Racing and Bloodstock Committee 1998−2005. Chairman Parliamentary Scientific Committee 2003−2005. He stepped down from the House of Commons at the United Kingdom 2005 General Election due to his wife's ill health.
One of 13 Conservative MPs who spoke against and voted against decision to invade Iraq (18 March 2003) and the way the re-construction progressed.
Won the House of Commons/Lords motor car race Brands Hatch and Donnington three times.
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...
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,...
(MP) 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...
from 1976 to 1979 and from December 1979 to 2005.
Early life
He is the son of Victor Charles Page. He went to the independent Hurstpierpoint CollegeHurstpierpoint College
Hurstpierpoint College is an independent, co-educational, day and boarding school for pupils aged 4–18, located just to the north of the village of Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex in the lee of the South Downs...
in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
and Luton Technical College (became Luton College of Higher Education
University of Bedfordshire
The University of Bedfordshire is based in Luton and Bedford, the two largest towns in the English county of Bedfordshire. The university was created by the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University on 1 August 2006 following approval by the Privy Council...
in the 1970s), gaining an HNC
Higher National Certificate
A Higher National Certificate is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom.In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the HNC is a BTEC qualification awarded by Edexcel, and in Scotland, an HNC is a Higher National awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority...
in Mechanical Engineering in 1962. He was an apprentice at Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
in Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
from 1959 to 1963, then worked for Page Holdings, becoming the Chairman from 1985 to 1995 and 1997 onwards.
From 1968to 1971, he was a district councillor in Banstead
Reigate and Banstead
Reigate and Banstead is a local government district with borough status in east Surrey England. It covers the towns of Reigate, Banstead, Redhill and Horley....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
Parliamentary career
Page won the seat of South West Hertfordshire in a by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in 1979, having previously been MP for Workington
Workington (UK Parliament constituency)
Workington is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.-Boundaries:...
from the by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
caused by the elevation of Fred Peart to 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....
in 1976 until losing the seat in the 1979 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1979
The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats...
. One of a handful of MPs who have been successful in two by-elections.He had contested the Workington seat in the February and October 1974 elections. Private Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State for Trade 81−83 and then to the Leader of the House (John Biffen) 83−87. He was a junior minister DTI under [John Major] with responsibility for small business, alternative energy, biotechnology, coal, oil and BNFL. Lead minister in the privatisation of AEA Technology. Used his knowledge of the private members ballot procedure to be successful with two private members bills from the single private members ballot slot. Moved a 10 minute rule bill to reduce the number of MP.s claiming it could allow MPs to be better paid and save the state money. Member of the Public Accounts Committee for over seven years. Governor of the Foundation for Western Democracy 1998−2001. International Chairman Central Office 1999−2001. Shadow Spokesman DTI 2001−2003. Joint Chairman All Party Racing and Bloodstock Committee 1998−2005. Chairman Parliamentary Scientific Committee 2003−2005. He stepped down from the House of Commons at the United Kingdom 2005 General Election due to his wife's ill health.
One of 13 Conservative MPs who spoke against and voted against decision to invade Iraq (18 March 2003) and the way the re-construction progressed.
Personal life
He married Madeleine Ann Brown in 1964. They have a son and a daughter. Hobbies include horse racing owning and attempting to breed race horses.Won the House of Commons/Lords motor car race Brands Hatch and Donnington three times.