Thomas Galloway Dunlop du Roy de Blicquy Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde, CH,PC (born 22 February 1960), known informally as Tom Strathclyde, is a British Conservative politician. Lord Strathclyde served in the political role of Leader of the House of Lords from the 2010 general election until January 2013 and as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, having been Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords (1998–2010).
In 1998 Strathclyde, along with the Conservative front bench in the Lords, threatened to tender his resignation if the party refused to accept a proposed compromise plan for reform of the Lords that had been negotiated with the Labour Party by Lord Cranborne, the Conservatives' leader in the Lords, unbeknown to the Leader of the Opposition (in the Commons) William Hague, and to his annoyance. Hague however accepted the proposals, dismissing Cranborne for the conduct in negotiations, and Strathclyde was appointed to succeed him. Under his leadership, the House of Lords Act 1999 passed: under this, Strathclyde was elected by other peers as one of the 92 hereditary peers to remain in the House of Lords.
He won Channel 4 Peer of the Year 2000, and Spectator Peer of the Year 2004.
On 7 January 2013, Strathclyde announced that he would be stepping down as Leader of the House of Lords, and resigning from the Cabinet with immediate effect, to pursue a second business career.[4] He was succeeded by Lord Hill of Oareford. He was subsequently appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for his services to the Lords.[5]
Marriage and children
Strathclyde married Jane Skinner, elder daughter of John Skinner, in 1992. They have three daughters:[1]
Hon. Elizabeth Ida Skinner Galbraith (born 1 December 1993)
Hon. Annabel Jane Simone Skinner Galbraith (born 15 May 1996)
Hon. Rose Marie Louise Skinner Galbraith (born 27 January 1999)
As Strathclyde has no sons, the heir presumptive to the peerage is his younger brother, the Hon. Charles William du Roy de Blicquy Galbraith (born 1962).[1]
He is a director of Auchendrane Estates Ltd, a landowning company in Scotland. His wealth is estimated at £10m.[7]
He was a non-executive director on the board of Trafigura's hedge-fund arm, Galena Asset Management, from 2004 until 2009.[8]Trafigura defended court actions during the 2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump scandal and The Guardian suggested his appointment may be an attempt to de-toxify the Dutch company globally.[9]
Arms
Coat of arms of Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde
Crest
A Bear's Head erased Gules muzzled Argent
Escutcheon
Gules three Bears' Heads erased Argent muzzled Azure within a Bordure indented Or charged with three Mullets of the Third a Crescent of the Second for difference.
Supporters
Two Bears Gules muzzled Argent
Motto
Ab obice suavior ('Gentler because of the obstruction', alluding to the muzzled bear's head of the Clan Galbraith crest)
Notes
References
^ a b c dMosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. pp. 3774–3776. ISBN0-9711966-2-1.
^"Lord Strathclyde: Expert on Scottish Affairs". The Times. 15 July 1985. p. 10.
^Boothroyd, David (21 August 2020). "United Kingdom European Parliamentary Election results 1979-99: England 2". Election Demon. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
^James Landale (7 January 2013). "Lord Strathclyde resigns from cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
^10 Downing Street. "10 Downing Street - Appointment to the Order of the Companions of Honour". number10.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Italics in entries mean the titleholder also holds a previously listed barony of greater precedence. ^* Also a Lord in the Peerage of Scotland, ^• Also a Baron in the Peerage of Ireland