Edward Timothy Razzall, Lord Razzall, (born 12 June 1943) is a British

Liberal Democrat Several political party, political parties from around the world have been called the Liberal Democratic Party or Liberal Democrats. These parties usually follow a liberal democracy, liberal democratic ideology. Active parties Former parties ...

politician and parliamentarian.

Early life

He was the son of

Humphrey Razzall Leonard Humphrey Razzall, known as Humphrey Razzall (13 November 1912 – 26 October 1999), was a British Liberal Party (UK), Liberal Party politician and solicitor. Background He was a son of Horace Razzall a Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Scarbor ...

, a

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

member who stood as Liberal Parliamentary Candidate for Scarborough and Whitby in the

1945 general election The following elections occurred in the year 1945. Africa * 1945 South-West African legislative election Asia * 1945 Indian general election Australia * 1945 Fremantle by-election Europe * 1945 Albanian parliamentary election * 1945 Bulgaria ...

. Razzall attended

St Paul's School, London (''By Faith and By Learning'') , established = , closed = , type = Independent school Public school , religion = Church of England , president = , he ...

before going to

Worcester College, Oxford Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in 1714 by the benefaction of Sir Thomas Cookes, 2nd Baronet (1648–1701) of Norgrove, Worcestershire, whose coat of arms w ...

, representing the

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

in 1964.

Career

Razzall qualified as a

solicitor A solicitor is a legal practitioner who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some jurisdictions. A person must have legally-defined qualifications, which vary from one jurisdiction to another, to be described as a solicitor and ...

in 1969 and worked for Frere Cholmeley (later Frere Cholmeley Bischoff), becoming a

partner Partner, Partners, The Partner, or, The Partners may refer to: Books * ''The Partner'' (Grisham novel), by John Grisham, 1997 * ''The Partner'' (Jenaro Prieto novel), 1928 * ''The Partners'' (book), a 1983 book by James B. Stewart * ''Partner'' (m ...

in 1973, and chief executive in 1990 before leaving in 1995 to set up his own corporate finance business (Argonaut Associates). Frere Cholmeley Bischoff encountered financial difficulties and dissolved shortly after his departure, for which some blame was attributed to Razzall. In 1974, he was elected as a

councillor A councillor is an elected representative for a local government council in some countries. Canada Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unl ...

for

Mortlake Mortlake is a suburban district of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes. Historically it was part of Surrey and until 1965 was in the Municipal Borough of Barnes. For many centu ...

ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

in the

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames () in southwest London forms part of Outer London and is the only London borough on both sides of the River Thames. It was created in 1965 when three smaller council areas amalgamated under the London ...

, which he represented for 24 years. During that time, he served as chair of

Richmond Council Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council is the Local government, local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London, the United Kingdom capital. Richm ...

's Policy and Resources Committee for 13 years and as deputy leader 1983–96. He was succeeded in both roles by

Serge Lourie (Alexander) Serge Lourie CF (born 22 February 1946) is a former Leader of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, where he was a local government councillor from 1982 to 2010. He was Chairman of the United Kingdom Housing Trust, Kingston ...

. In 1986, he became joint-treasurer of the Liberal Party, and then treasurer of the newly merged Liberal Democrats in 1988. 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 o ...

(CBE) in the

1993 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1993 were appointments by most of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, and honorary ones to citizens of other countr ...

and created a

Life Peer In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. In modern times, life peerages, always created at the rank of baron, are created under the Life Peerages ...

on 22 October 1997 as Baron Razzall, ''of

in the

London Borough of Richmond The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames () in southwest London forms part of Outer London and is the only London borough on both sides of the River Thames. It was created in 1965 when three smaller council areas amalgamated under the London ...

''. In July 2002, he was the best man at the marriage of

Charles Kennedy Charles Peter Kennedy (25 November 1959 – 1 June 2015) was a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 1999 to 2006, and was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ross, Skye and Lochaber from 1983 ...

(the then

Liberal Democrat Leader The Liberal Democrats are a political party in the United Kingdom. Party members elect the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the head and highest-ranking member of the party. Liberal Democrat members of Parliament also elect a deputy leader of ...

) to Sarah Gurling. From 2000 to 2006, he was chair of the Liberal Democrats' Campaigns and Communications Committee. Along with

Lord Rennard Christopher John Rennard, Baron Rennard, (born 8 July 1960) is a British life peer in the House of Lords, appointed to the Liberal Democrats' benches in 1999. He was Director of Campaigns & Elections for the Liberal Democrats from 1989 to 20 ...

, he was responsible for running the Liberal Democrats' election campaigns. He stepped down from this post in May 2006, saying he wanted a change and to give his successor a chance to settle into the role before the 2010 general election. A former

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...

Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Trade and Industry and Treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Intellectual Property Group in

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

, he now serves on various parliamentary committees.

Personal life

Razzall married first in 1965 (divorced 1974) Elizabeth Christina

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Wilkinson, and they had a daughter,

Katie Razzall Katherine Mary Razzall (born 31 October 1970) is a British journalist and television newsreader. Early life and education Razzall was born in Wandsworth, London, daughter of the British Liberal Democrat politician and parliamentarian Lord Razz ...

, the ''

BBC Newsnight ''Newsnight'' (or ''BBC Newsnight'') is BBC Two's news and current affairs programme, providing in-depth investigation and analysis of the stories behind the day's headlines. The programme is broadcast on weekdays at 22:30. and is also availa ...

'' reporter, and a son, James Razzall. Through his second marriage in 1982 (dissolved 2003) to Deirdre

Martineau Martineau is a surname. It is of French origin and may refer to: * Alice Martineau (1972–2003), English pop singer and songwriter * Alfred Albert Martineau (1859–1945), French Governor General * Alfred Martineau (cricketer) (1868–1940), Engl ...

Taylor-Smith, he became step-father to her two sons and two daughters. In 2008 he was reported to be the partner of

Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (born 20 October 1957) is a British Liberal Democrat politician, and member of the House of Lords. Background Family Bonham Carter hails from the Bonham Carter family. Her great-grandfathe ...

. Bonham-Carter has declared the relationship in the House of Lords Register of Interests.

Memoirs

His memoirs, ''Chance Encounters,'' were published in October 2014.

Controversy

Lord Razzall attracted criticism in 2008 when it was revealed that he and his partner, Jane Bonham-Carter, a fellow life peer, had both claimed

expenses for a flat that they shared, although it was not claimed that a breach of the rules had occurred. The House of Lords expenses system was later changed to give peers a flat rate irrespective of their residence.

Honours

(1997) *

Order of the British Empire (Civil) Ribbon

CBE 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 o ...

(1993)

References

External links

Lord Razzall
profile at the site of Liberal Democrats
Tim Razzall's cricketing record for Oxford''Debrett's People of Today''RAZZALL, Baron
''

Who's Who ''Who's Who'' (or ''Who is Who'') is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biography, biographical information on the prominent people of a country. The title has been adopted as an expression meaning a gr ...

2013'' (A & C Black, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012) {{DEFAULTSORT:Razzall, Tim 1943 births Living people People educated at St Paul's School, London Alumni of Worcester College, Oxford Oxford University cricketers Councillors in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats (UK) life peers Life peers created by Elizabeth II Commanders of the Order of the British Empire English cricketers Razzall family People from Ealing