Robert Wilfrid "Wilf" Stevenson, Baron Stevenson of Balmacara (born 19 April 1947) is a Labour Party life peer and former adviser to

Gordon Brown James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. Previously, he was Chancellor of the Ex ...

Early life

Stevenson is the son of James Alexander Stevenson and Elizabeth Anne Stevenson (née Macrae). He was born with

hypospadias Hypospadias is a common malformation in fetal development of the penis in which the urethra does not open from its usual location on the head of the penis. It is the second-most common birth defect of the male reproductive system, affecting about ...

, which he talked about in a parliamentary debate in 2018.

Education

Stevenson was educated at Edinburgh Academy, at the time an independent

boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...

for boys (now a co-educational day school). He then went on to study at

University College, Oxford University College, formally The Master and Fellows of the College of the Great Hall of the University commonly called University College in the University of Oxford and colloquially referred to as "Univ", is a Colleges of the University of Oxf ...

, obtaining an MA in Chemistry, and later at Napier Polytechnic (now

Edinburgh Napier University Edinburgh Napier University () is a public university in Edinburgh, Scotland. Napier Technical College, the predecessor of the university, was founded in 1964, taking its name from 16th-century Scottish mathematician and philosopher John Napie ...

), where he received an accountancy diploma (ACCA).

Career

Stevenson began his career as a Research Officer at the

Edinburgh University Students' Association Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) is the students' union at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. The Association's aim is the advancement of education of Edinburgh students by representing and supporting them, and by promoting t ...

(1970–74). He then spent thirteen years as a secretary at Napier College of Commerce and Technology in Edinburgh, before becoming Deputy Director (1987–88) and then Director (1988–97) of the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

. From 1997 to 2008 he was the Director of the

Smith Institute The Smith Institute is a left-wing think tank in the United Kingdom. It was founded in memory of John Smith (Labour Party leader), John Smith Queen's Counsel, QC Member of Parliament, MP, former leader of the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party. His ...

, a social-democratic think-tank named in honour of former Labour Party leader John Smith. After leaving government in 2010 he became the Chairman of the Foundation for Credit Counselling, remaining in that role until his retirement in 2015. Stevenson was a Governor of Prestwood Lodge School from 2008 to 2010. In 2008 he was awarded a Hon. DArts from Napier University.

Political career

Stevenson is a long-term friend and confidant of the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown; the two first met when Brown was an undergraduate student in the early 1970s. From 2008 to 2010, he was a Senior Policy Adviser at the Prime Minister's Office. Stevenson was 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. Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. With the exception of the D ...

on 13 July 2010, taking the title Baron Stevenson of Balmacara, of Little Missenden in the County of Buckinghamshire. He has served as an Opposition Whip since 2011.

Family

In 1972, he married Jennifer Grace Antonio, whom he later divorced in 1979. In 1991, he married Ann Minogue; they have one son, Tobin, and two daughters, Iona and Flora.

Bibliography

* Gordon Brown,

Kofi Annan Kofi Atta Annan (8 April 193818 August 2018) was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He was the founder a ...

and Wilf Stevenson (eds.), ''Gordon Brown, speeches 1997–2006'' (London: Bloomsbury, 2006). * Gordon Brown and Wilf Stevenson (eds.), ''Moving Britain Forward: Selected Speeches, 1997–2006'' (London: Bloomsbury, 2006). * Gordon Brown and Wilf Stevenson (eds.), ''The Change We Choose: speeches 2007–2009'' (Edinburgh: Mainstream Publications, 2010)

References

Sources

The Lord Stevenson of Balmacara
Debrett's {{DEFAULTSORT:Stevenson, Wilfrid 1947 births Living people Labour Party (UK) life peers Life peers created by Elizabeth II Alumni of University College, Oxford People educated at Edinburgh Academy