Michael Ancram

Conservative MP Son of 12th Marquess of Lothian, Born 7 July 1945.

Educated at Ampleforth[?] School, Christ Church, Oxford ( BA History 1966, MA) and Edinburgh University (LLB 1968)

Married Married Lady Jane Fitzalan-Howard (daughter of 16th Duke of Norfolk) in 1975 Previously an Advocate on the Scottish Bar, unsuccesfully contested East Lothian seat in 1970 Member of Parliament for Berwickshire & East Lothian from February to October 1974 and Edinburgh South from 1979-87. He has been Member of Parliament for Devizes since April 1992.

Member of the House of Commons Energy Select Committee 1979-83

Chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party from 1980-83.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Scottish Office with responsibility for Home Affairs, Housing, Local Government, Rating Reform and the Environment 1983-87.

Member of the Public Accounts Committee and Chairman of the Backbench Constitutional Affairs Committee from 1992 until May 1993.

Appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office May 1993. appointed Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office in January 1994.

Appointed to the Privy council[?] in January 1996

Shadow Cabinet: Constitutional Affairs Spokesman, June 1997 - June 1998 Chairman of Conservative Party,October 1998-September 2001, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs September 2001 -

In 2001 he stood against Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Portillo, Kenneth Clarke and David Davies[?] for the party leadership. In the first poll he and David Davies were tied for last place, leading to a re-run in which Ancram was placed bottom and he was eliminated and Davies withdrew. Both swung behind Iain Duncan Smith who went on to win, beating Clarke and Portillo in the second round.