Difference between revisions of "Helen Liddell"

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Helen Liddell (born) is former Labour MP for Airdrie & Shotts. She served as minister for Education and Industry in Scottish Office (1998-1999), minister of Transport (May 1999-July 1999), minister of Science, Energy and Industry (1999-2001), and as Secretary of State in Scottish Office (2001-2003). She left Parliament on 11 April 2005.<ref>They Work For You, [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/helen_liddell/airdrie_and_shotts Helen Liddell, former MP], accessed 27 November 2008.</ref>
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{{person
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|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Liddell,_Baroness_Liddell_of_Coatdyke
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|constitutes=politician
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|spouses=Alistair Liddell
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|interests=Robert Maxwell
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|description=British-Scottish Labour politician known to many as '[[Robert Maxwell]]'s spy'
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|image=Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke.jpg
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|alma_mater=University of Strathclyde
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|birth_date=6 December 1950
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|birth_place=Coatbridge, United Kingdom
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|religion=Roman Catholicism
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|spouses=Alistair Liddell
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|political_parties=Labour Party (UK)
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|children=1 son 1 daughter
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|employment={{job
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|title=British High Commissioner to Australia
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|start=1 September 2005
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|end=1 October 2009
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}}{{job
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|title=Secretary of State for Scotland
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|start=24 January 2001
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|end=12 June 2003
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}}{{job
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|title=UK/Minister of State for Transport
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|start=17 May 1999
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|end=29 July 1999
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}}{{job
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|title=Economic Secretary to the Treasury
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|start=3 May 1997
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|end=27 July 1998
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}}{{job
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|title=Member of Parliament for Airdrie and Shotts
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|start=2 May 1997
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|end=11 April 2005
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}}{{job
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|title=Member of Parliament for Monklands East
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|start=30 June 1994
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|end=1 May 1997
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}}
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}}'''Helen Lawrie Liddell, Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke''' is a British politician and [[life peer]] who was [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] from 2001 to 2003 and [[List of High Commissioners from the United Kingdom to Australia|British High Commissioner to Australia]] from 2005 to 2009. Liddell was close to the media proprietor and Israeli asset [[Robert Maxwell]]. Liddell was a member of the Philips inquiry into the suspicious [[1994 Scotland RAF Chinook crash]].
  
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The [[Herald Scotland|Herald]] described her network: "Liddell has a habit of collecting influential friends. [[Bernard Donoughue]] introduced her to the heady circles around [[10 Downing Street]] in the early seventies. [[Joe Haines]], another member of Wilson's kitchen cabinet, was later to put her in touch with [[Robert Maxwell]]. [[Tom McNally]], [[Jim Callaghan]]'s PPS at No 10, was another pal. [[Donald Dewar]], [[John Smith]], the writer and broadcaster [[Frank Delaney]], the journalist [[Charlie Wilson]] . . . it's a long and impressive list. Those outwith the fan club say she also knows how to drop people who have outlived their usefulness."<ref name=herald/>
  
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==Background==
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==Early life==
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Liddell was born to a [[Catholic]] father<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4260120/Helens-secret-shocks-the-Pope.html</ref> and a [[Protestant]] mother. She was educated at St. Patrick's Catholic High School on Muiryhall Street in [[Coatbridge]], and attended at the same time as [[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]], whom she later replaced as [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] and who also succeeded her as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] for [[Airdrie and Shotts (UK Parliament constituency)|Airdrie and Shotts]].
  
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==Biographical Information==
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She graduated as a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in Economics from the [[University of Strathclyde]] and joined the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], where she became the first female [[General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party]] at the age of 26 from 1977 to 1978.
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===History===
 
  
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===Current activities===
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==Early career==
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A former [[BBC Scotland]] economics [[journalist]] from 1976 to 1977, Liddell has taken flak for her closeness to media proprietor and Israeli asset [[Robert Maxwell]]. The Herald Scotland wrote: "Maxwell looms large in the Liddell legend. Even before the pensions fraud came to light there were those who felt that she had sacrificed her political credibility in accepting the job. She was known to many as ''Maxwell's spy'' and rumoured to be in constant contact with [[Joe Haines|Haines]]."<ref name=herald>https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12075863.a-hack-waiting-to-join-the-elite/</ref>
  
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==Views==
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Working as aide she once followed him on one occasion in to a gents' toilet while being followed by a TV crew. She was also the [[public relations|public affairs]] director of Maxwell's Scottish ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110723060237/http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/business-news/page.cfm?objectid=11008314&method=full&siteid=50003</ref>
  
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==Affiliations==
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After Maxwell's disgrace she tried to distance herself from him claiming that she had never worked for Maxwell.<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/capn-bob-we-wont-hear-a-bad-word-said-against-him-615855.html</ref>
  
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*Consultant,<ref>They Work For You, [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=10360 Changes to the Register of Members' Interests, Helen Liddell], accessed 27 November 2008.</ref> [[British Energy]] (http://www.british-energy.com/) - electricity production company
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Helen Liddell published one novel about women in politics, called ''Elite'' (Century, 1990).
  
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==Parliamentary career==
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She contested [[East Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|East Fife]] at the [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|October 1974 general election]].
  
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==Publications, Contact, Resources and Notes==
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Liddell was first elected to Parliament in 1994, at the closely contested [[1994 Monklands East by-election|Monklands East by-election]] following [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]]'s death. She was appointed a [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Councillor]] on 27 October 1998.<ref>[http://www.lgcplus.com/helen-liddell-appointed-to-transport-minister-post/1419381.article "Helen Liddell Appouinted to Transport Minister Post"], ''Local Government Chronicle'', 19 May 1999</ref>
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===Publications===
 
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===Contact===
 
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:Address:
 
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She was [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] from 2001 to 2003, a position whose powers had been transferred to the [[Scottish Executive]] after [[devolution]] in 1999.
  
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==Resources==
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The disclosure that she was able to work French lessons into her ministerial diary<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070322024619/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fopinion%2F2002%2F02%2F06%2Fdl0605.xml</ref> raised questions about the relevance of Scottish Secretary's job [[History of Scottish devolution|post-devolution]] and it was abolished as a full-time position in 2003, when the [[Scotland Office]] was rolled into the [[Department for Constitutional Affairs]].
  
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*They Work For You, [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=10360 Changes to the Register of Members' Interests, Helen Liddell], accessed 27 November 2008.
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==After politics==
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*They Work For You, [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/helen_liddell/airdrie_and_shotts Helen Liddell, former MP], accessed 27 November 2008.
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She took up appointment as<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110514080917/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2004/apr/02/foreignpolicy.uk</ref> [[List of High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Australia|British High Commissioner to Australia]] in the summer of 2005. She was succeeded in the role by [[Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos|Valerie, Baroness Amos]] in October 2009.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110831202556/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-high-commissioner-to-australia}</ref>
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*Ungoed-Thomas, Jon, et al., [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5213604.ece Times Online website, ''The Sunday Times'', 23 November 2008], accessed 24 November 2008.
 
  
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On 28 May 2010, it was announced in the [[2010 Dissolution Honours|Dissolution Honours List]] that she would be created a [[life peer]].<ref name="dissolution-honours">https://web.archive.org/web/20100601013232/http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/05/peerages-honours-and-appointments-51162</ref> On 7 July, she took the title '''''Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke''', of [[Airdrie, North Lanarkshire|Airdrie]] in the County of [[Lanarkshire]]'', six days later becoming a [[Members of the House of Lords|House of Lords member]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20100716202618/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10601991 </ref> She is a member of [[Labour Friends of Israel]].<ref>https://www.lfi.org.uk/in-parliament/|title=LFI Supporters in Parliament</ref> In 2010–11 Liddell was a member of the "independent" Philips inquiry into the [[1994 Scotland RAF Chinook crash]] on the [[Mull of Kintyre]], established by the [[Secretary of State for Defence]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160531215132/http://www.mullofkintyrereview.org.uk/sites/default/files/Mull%20of%20Kintyre%20Review%20Report.pdf</ref>
  
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==Notes and References==
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==References==
 
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[[Category:MP|Liddell, Helen]]
 
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Latest revision as of 20:09, 20 February 2023

Person.png Helen Liddell  Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(politician)
Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke.jpg
Born6 December 1950
Coatbridge, United Kingdom
Alma materUniversity of Strathclyde
ReligionRoman Catholicism
Children1 son 1 daughter
SpouseAlistair Liddell
InterestsRobert Maxwell
PartyLabour Party (UK)
British-Scottish Labour politician known to many as 'Robert Maxwell's spy'

Employment.png British High Commissioner to Australia

In office
1 September 2005 - 1 October 2009
Preceded byAlastair Goodlad

Employment.png Secretary of State for Scotland Wikipedia-icon.png

In office
24 January 2001 - 12 June 2003
Succeeded byAlistair Darling

Employment.png UK/Minister of State for Transport

In office
17 May 1999 - 29 July 1999
Preceded byJohn Reid
Succeeded byGus Macdonald

Employment.png Economic Secretary to the Treasury Wikipedia-icon.png

In office
3 May 1997 - 27 July 1998
Succeeded byPatricia Hewitt

Helen Lawrie Liddell, Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke is a British politician and life peer who was Secretary of State for Scotland from 2001 to 2003 and British High Commissioner to Australia from 2005 to 2009. Liddell was close to the media proprietor and Israeli asset Robert Maxwell. Liddell was a member of the Philips inquiry into the suspicious 1994 Scotland RAF Chinook crash.

The Herald described her network: "Liddell has a habit of collecting influential friends. Bernard Donoughue introduced her to the heady circles around 10 Downing Street in the early seventies. Joe Haines, another member of Wilson's kitchen cabinet, was later to put her in touch with Robert Maxwell. Tom McNally, Jim Callaghan's PPS at No 10, was another pal. Donald Dewar, John Smith, the writer and broadcaster Frank Delaney, the journalist Charlie Wilson . . . it's a long and impressive list. Those outwith the fan club say she also knows how to drop people who have outlived their usefulness."[1]

Early life

Liddell was born to a Catholic father[2] and a Protestant mother. She was educated at St. Patrick's Catholic High School on Muiryhall Street in Coatbridge, and attended at the same time as John Reid, whom she later replaced as Secretary of State for Scotland and who also succeeded her as MP for Airdrie and Shotts.

She graduated as a BA in Economics from the University of Strathclyde and joined the Labour Party, where she became the first female General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party at the age of 26 from 1977 to 1978.

Early career

A former BBC Scotland economics journalist from 1976 to 1977, Liddell has taken flak for her closeness to media proprietor and Israeli asset Robert Maxwell. The Herald Scotland wrote: "Maxwell looms large in the Liddell legend. Even before the pensions fraud came to light there were those who felt that she had sacrificed her political credibility in accepting the job. She was known to many as Maxwell's spy and rumoured to be in constant contact with Haines."[1]

Working as aide she once followed him on one occasion in to a gents' toilet while being followed by a TV crew. She was also the public affairs director of Maxwell's Scottish Daily Record.[3]

After Maxwell's disgrace she tried to distance herself from him claiming that she had never worked for Maxwell.[4]

Helen Liddell published one novel about women in politics, called Elite (Century, 1990).

Parliamentary career

She contested East Fife at the October 1974 general election.

Liddell was first elected to Parliament in 1994, at the closely contested Monklands East by-election following John Smith's death. She was appointed a Privy Councillor on 27 October 1998.[5]

She was Secretary of State for Scotland from 2001 to 2003, a position whose powers had been transferred to the Scottish Executive after devolution in 1999.

The disclosure that she was able to work French lessons into her ministerial diary[6] raised questions about the relevance of Scottish Secretary's job post-devolution and it was abolished as a full-time position in 2003, when the Scotland Office was rolled into the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

After politics

She took up appointment as[7] British High Commissioner to Australia in the summer of 2005. She was succeeded in the role by Valerie, Baroness Amos in October 2009.[8]

On 28 May 2010, it was announced in the Dissolution Honours List that she would be created a life peer.[9] On 7 July, she took the title Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke, of Airdrie in the County of Lanarkshire, six days later becoming a House of Lords member.[10] She is a member of Labour Friends of Israel.[11] In 2010–11 Liddell was a member of the "independent" Philips inquiry into the 1994 Scotland RAF Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre, established by the Secretary of State for Defence.[12]


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References

  1. ↑ a b https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12075863.a-hack-waiting-to-join-the-elite/
  2. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4260120/Helens-secret-shocks-the-Pope.html
  3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110723060237/http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/business-news/page.cfm?objectid=11008314&method=full&siteid=50003
  4. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/capn-bob-we-wont-hear-a-bad-word-said-against-him-615855.html
  5. ↑ "Helen Liddell Appouinted to Transport Minister Post", Local Government Chronicle, 19 May 1999
  6. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070322024619/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fopinion%2F2002%2F02%2F06%2Fdl0605.xml
  7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110514080917/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2004/apr/02/foreignpolicy.uk
  8. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110831202556/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-high-commissioner-to-australia}
  9. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100601013232/http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/05/peerages-honours-and-appointments-51162
  10. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100716202618/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10601991
  11. ↑ https://www.lfi.org.uk/in-parliament/%7Ctitle=LFI Supporters in Parliament
  12. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160531215132/http://www.mullofkintyrereview.org.uk/sites/default/files/Mull%20of%20Kintyre%20Review%20Report.pdf
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