Bruce Grocott, Baron Grocott

The Right Honourable
The Lord Grocott
PC
Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms
In office
29 May 2002  24 January 2008
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Gordon Brown
Preceded by The Lord Carter
Succeeded by The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Member of Parliament
for Telford
The Wrekin (1987–1997)
In office
11 June 1987  7 June 2001
Preceded by Warren Hawksley
Succeeded by David Wright
Member of Parliament
for Lichfield and Tamworth
In office
10 October 1974  3 May 1979
Preceded by Jack d'Avigdor-Goldsmid
Succeeded by John Heddle
Personal details
Born (1940-11-01) 1 November 1940
Watford, United Kingdom
Political party Labour
Alma mater University of Leicester
University of Manchester

Bruce Joseph Grocott, Baron Grocott PC (born 1 November 1940) is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Grocott was born in Kings Langley near Watford, and was educated at the University of Leicester. He obtained an MA from Manchester University after conducting research on Local Government. He was appointed to the post of lecturer, and later a senior lecturer, at the City of Birmingham College of Commerce (later Birmingham Polytechnic, now Birmingham City University). During this time he was elected to Bromsgrove Urban District Council. From 1972 to 1974 he was a principal lecturer at North Staffordshire Polytechnic.

Parliamentary career

His first attempt to become a member of Parliament was in the 1970 election when he stood unsuccessfully for South West Hertfordshire. He was then selected as a candidate and was elected as Member of Parliament for Lichfield and Tamworth in October 1974,[1] in which position he became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Planning, and later the Minister of Agriculture.[2] He lost his seat at the 1979 general election and joined Central Television as a presenter and producer, working on programmes such as Left, Right and Centre, Central Lobby and Central Weekend.

He was re-elected for The Wrekin in 1987[1] and he was very shortly thereafter appointed Deputy Shadow Leader of the House to Jack Cunningham before becoming advisor to the Leader of the Opposition, Neil Kinnock and, later, a Foreign Affairs Spokesman under John Smith. He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Tony Blair from 1994 until 2001.[3]

He transferred to Telford in 1997 when The Wrekin was divided. He served this seat until the 2001 general election, when he stepped down from the Commons.

House of Lords

He was made a life peer under the title of Baron Grocott, of Telford, in the County of Shropshire, on 2 July 2001,[4] quickly being promoted to a government whip in the House of Lords. From 2002 to 2008 he was the Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords as well as Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms, the honorary post usually held by the Chief Whip. As the Government Chief Whip, he was sworn of the Privy Council in 2002.

In October 2012 it was announced that Lord Grocott has been elected as the next chancellor of the University of Leicester, the first time in the university's history that a former student has been appointed to the post. He was installed as chancellor at the degree ceremony in DeMontfort Hall on 24 January 2013.[5]

Family

He is married with two sons and lives in Staffordshire.

Styles of address

References

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Jack d'Avigdor-Goldsmid
Member of Parliament
for Lichfield and Tamworth

19741979
Succeeded by
John Heddle
Preceded by
Warren Hawksley
Member of Parliament
for Telford
The Wrekin (19871997)

19872001
Succeeded by
David Wright
Political offices
Preceded by
The Lord Carter
Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords
2002–2008
Succeeded by
The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms
2002–2008
Party political offices
Preceded by
The Lord Carter
Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords
2002–2008
Succeeded by
The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Academic offices
Vacant
Title last held by
Peter Williams
Chancellor of the University of Leicester
2013–present
Incumbent
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