Dick Taverne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Taverne
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Official portrait, 2018
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| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | |
| In office 13 October 1969 – 19 June 1970 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Harold Lever |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Jenkin |
| Minister of State for the Treasury | |
| In office 6 April 1968 – 13 October 1969 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Bill Rodgers |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | |
| In office 6 April 1966 – 6 April 1968 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | George Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Elystan Morgan |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| Assumed office 5 February 1996 Life Peerage |
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| Member of Parliament for Lincoln |
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| In office 8 March 1962 – 20 September 1974 |
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| Preceded by | Geoffrey de Freitas |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 October 1928 |
| Political party | Labour (until 1972) Democratic Labour (1972–80) SDP (1981–88) Liberal Democrats (since 1988) |
| Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford |
Dick Taverne, Baron Taverne, KC (born 18 October 1928) is a British politician. He is also known as Lord Taverne. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Lincoln. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the UK Parliament. He was an MP from 1962 to 1974.
Lord Taverne was first a member of the Labour Party. Later, he joined the Liberal Democrats. He became a life peer in 1996. A life peer is someone given a special title for life. This title allows them to sit in the House of Lords.
His political journey included several changes in party. He left the Labour Party in 1972. He then won a special election in 1973 as an independent candidate. This showed that voters could choose someone not from a major party. He later joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This party later merged with the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats.
Lord Taverne's Career in Politics
Dick Taverne studied at Charterhouse School and Balliol College, Oxford. He studied Philosophy and Ancient History. In 1954, he became a lawyer, known as a barrister. He became a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1965. This is a special title for experienced lawyers.
He first tried to become an MP in 1959 but was not elected. In March 1962, he was elected as the MP for Lincoln. This happened in a special election called a by-election.
During the 1960s, he held several important government jobs. He worked under Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
- From 1966 to 1968, he was a minister in the Home Office. This department deals with law and order.
- From 1968 to 1969, he was a Minister of State at the Treasury. This department manages the country's money.
- From 1969 to 1970, he was the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. This was a very senior role in managing the nation's finances.
In 1970, he helped start the Institute for Fiscal Studies. This is a group that studies economic issues. He was its first director and later its chairman.
Changing Political Paths
In 1972, the local Labour Party in Lincoln disagreed with his views. They did not want him to be their candidate anymore. This is called being "deselected." He supported the European Economic Community, which was a group of European countries working together.
Because of this, he left the Labour Party and Parliament. He then formed a new group called the Lincoln Democratic Labour Association. In March 1973, he ran again in a special election. He won as an independent candidate. He kept his seat in the next general election in February 1974.
However, he lost his seat in Parliament in October 1974. He continued to be active with his Democratic Labour Association. In 1974, he wrote a book called The Future of the Left: Lincoln and After. This book shared his ideas about politics.
Joining New Parties
In the early 1980s, a new party was formed called the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Lord Taverne joined this party. He was part of their national committee from 1981 to 1987. He ran for Parliament again in 1982 and 1983 but did not win.
Later, the SDP joined with the Liberal Party. They formed a new party called the Liberal Democrats. Lord Taverne joined this new party. He was on their policy committee from 1989 to 1990.
On 5 February 1996, he was given the title of Baron Taverne. This made him a life peer. He now sits in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.
Interests in Science and Public Policy
Lord Taverne has a strong interest in science. In 2004, he became President of the Research Defence Society. This group supports scientific research. He has also been a member of important committees in the House of Lords. These committees look at science and technology issues.
In 2005, he wrote a book called The March of Unreason. This book discusses how people sometimes ignore scientific evidence. He also won an award for explaining science to the public in 2005.
Sense about Science
In 1955, he married Janice Hennessey, who was a scientist. This made him even more interested in science. In 2002, he started a charity called Sense about Science. This group helps people understand science better. It encourages using evidence to make decisions.
He is also involved with groups that support humanism. These groups believe in reason and ethics without religion. He is an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society. He is also a Distinguished Supporter of Humanists UK.
See also
- List of UK minor party and independent MPs elected
- Lincoln Democratic Labour Association
- Candidate deselection (Labour Party)
