Leon Brittan Article Index for
Leon
Website Links For
Leon
 

Information About

Leon Brittan




Brittan was educated at the Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School and then Trinity College, Cambridge (where he was President of the Cambridge Union Society ), he started his career as a lawyer. After unsuccessfully contesting the constituency of North Kensington in 1966 and 1970 , he was elected to parliament in the General Election Of February 1974 , and became an opposition spokesman in 1976 . He was made a Queen's Counsel in 1978 . Between 1979 and 1981 he was Minister of State at the Home Office , and then was made Chief Secretary To The Treasury , a Cabinet position. At the 1983 election he changed his seat to Richmond, Yorkshire . He was Home Secretary from 1983 to 1985 , and was then moved to Secretary Of State For Trade And Industry . He resigned over the Westland Affair .

He was made a commissioner at the European Commission in 1989 , resigning as an MP at this time, and became vice-president, but resigned with the rest of the commission in 1999 amid accusations of widespread fraud.

During his 14 years as an MP he served the constituencies of Cleveland and Whitby (1974-1983) and Richmond (1983-1989).

He was created Baron Brittan of Spennithorne in February 2000 and is an advisory director of Unilever and a consultant to the City law firm Herbert Smith .

  Title Member Of Parliament for Cleveland And Whitby
  Years 1974&ndash1983
  Before James Tinn
  After (constituency abolished)


  Title Member Of Parliament for Richmond (Yorkshire)
  Years 1983&ndash1988
  Before Timothy Kitson
  After William Hague



EXTERNAL LINKS


  NAME Brittan, Leon
  ALTERNATIVE NAMES Baron Brittan of Spennithorne
  SHORT DESCRIPTION British politician
  DATE OF BIRTH 1939-09-25
  PLACE OF BIRTH London