Gordon Campbell, Baron Campbell of Croy

The Right Honourable
The Lord Campbell of Croy
MC PC DL
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
In office
4 March 1974  13 June 1974
Leader Edward Heath
Preceded by William Ross
Succeeded by Alick Buchanan-Smith
In office
23 January 1969  19 June 1970
Leader Edward Heath
Preceded by William Ross
Secretary of State for Scotland
In office
19 June 1970  4 March 1974
Prime Minister Edward Heath
Preceded by William Ross
Succeeded by William Ross
Member of Parliament
for Moray and Nairn
In office
8 October 1959  28 February 1974
Preceded by James Stuart
Succeeded by Winnie Ewing
Personal details
Born (1921-06-08)8 June 1921
Quetta, Pakistan
Died 26 April 2005(2005-04-26) (aged 83)
London, United Kingdom
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Nicola Madan
Children 3
Alma mater Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Profession Soldier, Diplomat
Military service
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1939-1945
Rank Major
Battles/wars

Gordon Thomas Calthrop Campbell, Baron Campbell of Croy, MC, PC, DL (8 June 1921 26 April 2005), was a Scottish Conservative & Unionist politician.

He was born in Quetta, British India (now in Pakistan), the son of Major General James Alexander Campbell and was educated at Wellington College before joining the Royal Artillery in 1939. He fought in the Second World War with the Royal Artillery from 1940, winning the Military Cross and Bar. Invalided out in 1947 with the honorary rank of major, he served the Foreign Office in New York and Vienna until 1957. Elected to parliament in 1959, he served as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Moray and Nairn until February 1974 when he was defeated by Winnie Ewing of the Scottish National Party. He served as a Government Whip, 1961–62; Lord Commissioner of the Treasury and Scottish Whip, 1962–63; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, 1963-64. He was Opposition Spokesman on Defence, 1967–68 and a member of the Shadow Cabinet, 1969-70.

He was Secretary of State for Scotland during the whole of Edward Heath's government. During his term in office the issues of fishing and oil led to him losing his Moray coastal seat to the SNP. Government papers released under the 30 year rule reveal an attitude that may explain that loss. Papers from 1970 revealed how the Scottish Office was prepared to have a "weaker and less efficient national fleet"[1] to enable the UK to sign up to the controversial Common Fisheries Policy. On oil in 1972 Campbell was against any move to pump oil revenues directly into the Scottish economy despite Heath asking government departments to explore such an arrangements to help revive Scotland's economy with "its own resources".[2] Further papers from 1974 revealed how he proposed "exceptional measures" to force Shetland Islands Council to accept an oil terminal without financial benefit to the islands.[3]

After leaving the Commons, he was made a life peer as Baron Campbell of Croy, of Croy in the County of Nairn in 1975. He became Chairman of the Scottish Board in 1976, and was Vice President of the Advisory Committee on Pollution at Sea from 1976 to 1984. He married Nicola Madan, daughter of Geoffrey Spencer Madan and his wife Marjorie Noble, and had three children.

Footnotes

  1. Gethin Chamberlain and Frank Urquhart (1 January 2003). "Heath knew policy would kill fish fleet". The Scotsman. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  2. "Heath sparked Scots oil debate". BBC News. 1 January 2003. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  3. Ian Johnston (1 January 2005). "How Shetland's Gaddafi took on oil giants to win bountiful deal". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2009.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
James Gray Stuart
Member of Parliament for Moray and Nairn
1959 1974
Succeeded by
Winnie Ewing
Political offices
Preceded by
William Ross
Secretary of State for Scotland
1970 1974
Succeeded by
William Ross
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