Owen Paterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Owen Paterson
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Official portrait, 2020
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| Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | |
| In office 4 September 2012 – 14 July 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Caroline Spelman |
| Succeeded by | Liz Truss |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | |
| In office 12 May 2010 – 4 September 2012 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Shaun Woodward |
| Succeeded by | Theresa Villiers |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | |
| In office 2 July 2007 – 11 May 2010 |
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| Leader | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | David Lidington |
| Succeeded by | Shaun Woodward |
| Member of Parliament for North Shropshire |
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| In office 1 May 1997 – 5 November 2021 |
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| Preceded by | John Biffen |
| Succeeded by | Helen Morgan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Owen William Paterson
24 June 1956 Whitchurch, Shropshire, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Rose Ridley
(m. 1980; died 2020) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | Ellesmere, Shropshire, England Drôme, France |
| Education | Radley College |
| Alma mater | Corpus Christi College, Cambridge |
Owen William Paterson (born 24 June 1956) is a British former politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for North Shropshire from 1997 until 2021.
He also served as a government minister. He was the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2010 to 2012. After that, he became the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2012 to 2014. Both roles were under Prime Minister David Cameron. Paterson was a member of the Conservative Party. He resigned from Parliament in 2021.
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Early Life and Education
Owen Paterson was born in Whitchurch, Shropshire, England. He grew up on his family's farm. He went to Abberley Hall School and Radley College.
Later, he studied History at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He also attended the National Leathersellers College. After his studies, he joined his family's leather business. He became a director there. He is also a Freeman of the City of London. This is an old honour given to people connected to the city.
Parliamentary Career
Owen Paterson was first elected as an MP in 1997. He represented the area of North Shropshire. He won his seat with a small majority at first. However, he increased his majority in every election after that.
As an MP, he worked on several important committees. These included the Welsh Affairs Committee and the Agriculture Committee. He also supported the Royal Irish Regiment. This army unit was based in his local area.
Early Roles in Parliament
From 2001 to 2003, Paterson worked for the Leader of the Opposition. This role is called a Parliamentary Private Secretary. He then became a "Shadow Minister" for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. A Shadow Minister is an opposition MP who watches over a government department.
In this role, he supported the dairy industry. He also studied issues like animal health and fishing policies. He even went out on a fishing boat to understand the challenges faced by fishermen. Later, he was a Shadow Minister for Transport from 2005 to 2007.
Working for Northern Ireland
In 2007, Owen Paterson became the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. This meant he was the main opposition spokesperson for Northern Ireland affairs. He worked to improve links between the Conservative Party and the Ulster Unionist Party.
In 2010, he became the actual Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. This was a very important job in the government. One of his first big tasks was to oversee the release of the Saville Report. This report looked into the events of Bloody Sunday in 1972. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, later apologised for these events. Paterson also worked on plans to give Northern Ireland more control over its own taxes. He also spoke about the importance of different types of schools working together in Northern Ireland.
Working for Environment and Food
In September 2012, Paterson was appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This role meant he was in charge of policies related to the environment, farming, and food.
During his time in this role, he supported fracking as an energy source. He also believed that genetically modified food (GM) technology was important. He thought GM crops could help feed more people. He left this government role in July 2014.
Views on the European Union
Owen Paterson was known for his strong views on the European Union. He believed that the UK should leave the EU. This view is called Euroscepticism.
After leaving his government role, he actively supported the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union, known as Brexit. He spoke often about why he thought Britain should be independent from the EU. He was part of groups that pushed for Brexit.
Parliamentary Conduct and Resignation
In October 2021, a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards found that Owen Paterson had broken rules about how MPs should act. The report said he had used his position to help two companies that paid him as a consultant.
The report suggested he should be suspended from Parliament. Paterson disagreed with the findings. After much discussion, he decided to resign from Parliament on 5 November 2021. This meant there had to be a special election, called a by-election, in his area. The by-election was held in December 2021.
In September 2024, the European Court of Human Rights looked at his case. They decided that the parliamentary investigation into his actions was fair.
Personal Life
Owen Paterson married Rose Ridley in 1980. They had two sons and a daughter. He lives in Shropshire, England, and also has a home in France.
He enjoys horse riding and racing. His daughter, Evie, is also a talented horse rider. In 2018, Owen Paterson had an accident while riding and broke some bones in his back. Sadly, his wife Rose passed away in 2020.
Honours
In 2010, Owen Paterson became a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the King. Being a member means he can use the special title "The Right Honourable" for life.
Images for kids
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Official portrait of Owen Paterson, 2020
