Nicholas Edward True, Baron True (born 31 July 1951) is a British

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

politician serving as

Leader of the House of Lords The leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The post is also the leader of the majority party in the House of Lords who acts as ...

and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal since September 2022.

Early life and education

True was born on 31 July 1951 to Edward Thomas True and Kathleen Louise True (''née'' Mather). He was educated at

Nottingham High School , motto_translation = Praise to the end , address = Waverley Mount , city = Nottingham , county = Nottinghamshire , postcode = NG7 4ED , country = England , coordinates = , type = Independent day school , established = , closed = , religious ...

and Peterhouse, Cambridge, from which he graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four year ...

(BA) degree in 1973; as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Th ...

(MA Cantab) in 1978.

Politics

True worked in the

Conservative Research Department The Conservative Research Department (CRD) is part of the central organisation of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom. It operates alongside other departments of Conservative Campaign Headquarters in Westminster. The CRD has been descr ...

from 1975 to 1982, also serving as assistant to the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party from 1978 to 1982. He was special adviser to

Norman Fowler Peter Norman Fowler, Baron Fowler, (born 2 February 1938) is a British politician who served as a member of both Margaret Thatcher and John Major's ministries during the 1980s and 1990s. He held the office of Lord Speaker from 1 September 201 ...

Secretary of State for Health and Social Security The secretary of state for work and pensions, also referred to as the work and pensions secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the business of the Department for Work and P ...

from 1982 to 1986. He then moved to be Director of the Public Policy Unit from 1986 to 1990. He was Deputy Head of the Prime Minister's Policy Unit from 1991 to 1995, before becoming special adviser within the Prime Minister's Office in 1997, until the general election of that year. In his memoirs the former Prime Minister John Major says that True was his favourite speechwriter. He was appointed a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) in the 1993 New Year Honours. True served as private secretary to the Leader of the Opposition in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...

and Director of the Opposition Whips' Office there from 1997 to 2010. On 23 December 2010 he was created a life peer as Baron True, of

East Sheen East Sheen, also known as Sheen, is a suburb in south-west London in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its long high street has shops, offices, restaurants, cafés, pubs and suburban supermarkets and is also the economic hub for Mortl ...

in the County of Surrey. In June 2021, he announced plans for the

Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours As part of the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II awarded a number of civic honours, most notably the creation of new cities in a competition. Another competition for lord mayor or lord provost status was held. It was announced on 8 June 202 ...

in the House of Lords.

Public office

He was a Conservative councillor in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames from 1986 to 1990 and again from 1998 to 2018. He served as Leader of the Council from 2010 to 2017, having previously served as Deputy Leader from 2002 to 2006 and Leader of the Opposition from 2006 to 2010. He has been, since 2006, a trustee of the Richmond Civic Trust, and since 1996 a trustee of Sir Harold Hood's Charitable Trust. He served the Olga Havel Foundation in the same capacity from 1990 to 1994. In February 2020 True was made a

Minister of State at the Cabinet Office The Minister for the Cabinet Office is a position in the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom. The minister is responsible for the work and policies of the Cabinet Office, and since February 2022, reports to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan ...

. On 6 September 2022, Liz Truss promoted him to Cabinet and appointed him

. On 13 September 2022, he was sworn-in as a Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Personal life

In 1979 he married Anne-Marie Elena Kathleen Blanco, daughter of Robin Adrian Hood, director of

CAFOD The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is an international development charity and the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. It aims to tackle poverty globally. Through local Catholic Church and secular pa ...

from 1977 to 1982, and granddaughter of the businessman and Conservative politician

Sir Joseph Hood, 1st Baronet Sir Joseph Hood, 1st Baronet (31 March 1863 – 10 January 1931) was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician. Biography Born in Ashby de la Zouch (Ashby), Leicestershire, Hood was educated at the local grammar school. He subsequ ...

.Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 2, Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 1594 They have two sons and one daughter.

Notes

References

*Who's Who 2011 , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:True, Nicholas True, Baron Living people 1951 births People educated at Nottingham High School Alumni of Peterhouse, Cambridge Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Conservative Party (UK) councillors Conservative Party (UK) life peers Leaders of the House of Lords Lords Privy Seal Councillors in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Leaders of local authorities of England Life peers created by Elizabeth II Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom