Bill Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank
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Official portrait, 2019
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| Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 19 December 1997 – 7 June 2001 |
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| Leader | |||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | The Lord Jenkins of Hillhead | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | The Baroness Williams of Crosby | ||||||||||||||||||
| Secretary of State for Transport | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 10 September 1976 – 4 May 1979 |
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| Prime Minister | James Callaghan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | John Gilbert | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Norman Fowler | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 October 1928 Liverpool, England |
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| Political party | Liberal Democrats (1988–present) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Silvia Szulman
(m. 1955; died 2006) |
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| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Magdalen College, Oxford | ||||||||||||||||||
William Thomas Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank, born on 28 October 1928, is a British politician. He was a member of the Labour Party and later helped create the Liberal Democrats. He served as a government minister and was a leader in the House of Lords.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Rodgers was born in Liverpool, England. He went to Quarry Bank High School in Liverpool. After school, he served in the military for a short time. He then studied history at Magdalen College, Oxford, a famous university.
After his studies, he worked for the Fabian Society from 1953 to 1960. This group helps shape the ideas of the Labour Party. He was also a local councillor in St Marylebone Borough Council from 1958 to 1962. He was involved in important political discussions, like those about nuclear weapons.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
Starting in the House of Commons
William Rodgers first became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1962. He represented the area of Stockton-on-Tees. An MP is someone elected by people to speak for them in the House of Commons. This is where laws are made in the UK.
Working in Government
He served in Labour governments under Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. From 1976 to 1979, he was the Secretary of State for Transport. This meant he was in charge of all things related to transport in the country. He was known for being good at organizing and supporting central ideas within the Labour Party, like Britain being part of the European Economic Community (which later became the European Union).
Changing Political Parties
After the Labour Party lost the 1979 election, William Rodgers became the Shadow Defence Secretary. This meant he was the main opposition spokesperson on defence matters.
In 1981, the Labour Party started to change its direction. William Rodgers, along with three other senior Labour politicians – Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins, and David Owen – decided to leave. They were known as the "Gang of Four". They formed a new political party called the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Life After the House of Commons
In the 1983 election, William Rodgers lost his seat in Parliament. Even though the SDP won many votes, they didn't win many seats. For a while, he worked outside Parliament. He was the Director-General of the Royal Institute of British Architects and also led the Advertising Standards Authority. This group makes sure adverts are honest.
Joining the Liberal Democrats
In 1987, he helped lead a campaign to merge the SDP with the Liberal Party. This merger created the Liberal Democrats party in 1988.
In 1992, he became a life peer. This means he was given the title of Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank and became a member of the House of Lords. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament. As a peer, he could continue to be involved in making laws.
From 1997 to 2001, he was the leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. He wrote a book about his life called Fourth Among Equals. He retired from the House of Lords in December 2023.
Personal Life
In 1955, William Rodgers married Silvia Szulman, who was an artist and writer. They had three daughters named Rachel, Lucy, and Juliet. Silvia passed away in 2006.
In 2001, William Rodgers had a stroke. He was very lucky and did not suffer any lasting physical damage. After his recovery, he became a strong supporter of better care for people who have had strokes.
