Bill Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank PC
Official portrait, 2019
Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
In office 19 December 1997 – 7 June 2001
Leader	Paddy Ashdown Charles Kennedy
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
Prime Minister	James Callaghan
Preceded by	John Gilbert
Succeeded by	Norman Fowler
Junior ministerial offices Minister of State for Defence In office 4 March 1974 – 10 September 1976 Prime Minister Harold Wilson James Callaghan Sec. of State Roy Mason Fred Mulley Preceded by George Younger Succeeded by John Gilbert Minister of State for the Treasury In office 13 October 1969 – 19 June 1970 Prime Minister Harold Wilson Chancellor Roy Jenkins Preceded by Dick Taverne Succeeded by Terence Higgins Minister of State for the Board of Trade In office 1 July 1968 – 13 October 1969 Prime Minister Harold Wilson President Anthony Crosland Roy Mason Preceded by Edmund Dell Succeeded by Goronwy Roberts Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs In office 7 January 1967 – 3 July 1968 Prime Minister Harold Wilson Sec. of State George Brown Michael Stewart Preceded by The Lord Walston Succeeded by Maurice Foley (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs In office 21 October 1964 – 7 January 1967 Serving with Maurice Foley (1964–1966) Prime Minister Harold Wilson Sec. of State George Brown Michael Stewart Preceded by Office established Succeeded by Harold Lever Peter Shore
Shadow cabinet offices Shadow Secretary of State for Defence In office 14 June 1979 – 8 December 1980 Leader James Callaghan Michael Foot Shadowing Francis Pym Preceded by Fred Mulley Succeeded by Brynmor John Shadow Secretary of State for Transport In office 4 May 1979 – 14 June 1979 Leader James Callaghan Shadowing Norman Fowler Preceded by Norman Fowler Succeeded by Albert Booth
Parliamentary offices Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal In office 12 February 1992 – 12 December 2023 Life peerage Member of Parliament for Stockton-on-Tees In office 6 April 1962 – 13 May 1983 Preceded by George Chetwynd Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1928-10-28) 28 October 1928 (age 96) Liverpool, England
Political party	Liberal Democrats (1988–present)
Other political affiliations	Labour (before 1981) SDP (1981–1988)
Spouse	Silvia Szulman ​ ​ (m. 1955; died 2006)​
Children	3
Alma mater	Magdalen College, Oxford

William Thomas Rodgers, also known as Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank, is a British politician. He was born on October 28, 1928. He has been a member of different political parties throughout his career.

He was a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party. He served as the Secretary of State for Transport from 1976 to 1979. Later, he was one of four important Labour politicians who left to start the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He then helped the SDP join with another party to form the Liberal Democrats in 1988. From 1997 to 2001, he led the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords.

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 went to Magdalen College, Oxford to study history. From 1953 to 1960, he was the general secretary of the Fabian Society. This group helps shape ideas for the Labour Party. He also served as a local councillor in St Marylebone Borough Council from 1958 to 1962.

Rodgers played a key role in convincing the Labour Party to change its mind about nuclear weapons in 1961. He wanted Britain to keep its nuclear weapons.

Political Journey

Starting in Parliament

Rodgers first became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1962. He represented the area of Stockton-on-Tees. He worked in Labour governments led by Harold Wilson and James Callaghan.

In 1976, he became the Secretary of State for Transport. He held this important job until the Labour Party lost the general election in 1979.

Forming the SDP

After the 1979 election, the Labour Party started to change its direction. Rodgers felt it was moving too far to the left. So, in 1981, he joined three other senior Labour politicians. These were Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins, and David Owen. Together, they formed a new party called the Social Democratic Party (SDP). They were often called the "Gang of Four."

In 1982, Rodgers tried to become the president of the SDP. However, he did not win the election.

Life After Being an MP

In the 1983 general election, Rodgers lost his seat in Parliament. The SDP and Liberal Party had joined forces, but they did not win many seats.

For a while, he was not an MP. During this time, he worked as the Director-General of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He also became the Chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority. This group makes sure adverts are honest.

Joining the Liberal Democrats

In 1987, Rodgers led a campaign to merge the SDP with the Liberal Party. This merger created the Liberal Democrats party.

In 1992, he became a life peer. This means he was given a special title and a seat in the House of Lords for life. He was known as Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank. In the House of Lords, he spoke for the Liberal Democrats on home affairs from 1994. He then led the party in the Lords from 1997 to 2001.

Rodgers wrote a book about his life called Fourth Among Equals. This title showed that he was seen as the least famous of the four people who started the SDP.

He retired from the House of Lords on December 12, 2023.

Family Life and Health

In 1955, William Rodgers married Silvia Szulman. She was an artist and writer. They had three daughters together: Rachel, Lucy, and Juliet. Silvia passed away in 2006.

In 2001, Rodgers had a stroke. He received treatment and speech therapy. He later said he was very lucky not to have any lasting physical damage. Since then, he has supported better care for people who have had strokes.