John Thurso: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Scottish Liberal Democrat politician |
{{Short description|Scottish nobleman and Liberal Democrat politician}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} |
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{{Infobox officeholder |
{{Infobox officeholder |
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| predecessor = [[Stuart Bell]] |
| predecessor = [[Stuart Bell]] |
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| successor = [[Nick Brown]] |
| successor = [[Nick Brown]] |
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| office1 = |
| office1 = Member of the [[House of Lords]] |
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| status1 = Lord Temporal |
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| term_label1 = as a [[hereditary peer]] |
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| term_start1 = 31 October 1995 |
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| term_end1 = 11 November 1999 |
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| successor1 = [[Vince Cable]] (2015) |
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| successor1 = {{thin space|''Seat abolished''|{{efn|name=hla1999|Under the [[House of Lords Act 1999]].}}}} |
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| term_label2 = as an {{thin space|[[List of hereditary peers elected under the House of Lords Act 1999|elected hereditary peer]]|{{efn|name=hla1999}}}} |
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| term_start2 = 2003 |
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| term_start2 = 19 April 2016 |
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| term_end2 = |
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| predecessor2 = [[ |
| predecessor2 = [[Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury|The Lord Avebury]] |
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| successor2 = |
| successor2 = |
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| office4 = [[Member of the House of Lords]] |
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| term_start3 = 7 June 2001 |
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| term_end3 = 30 March 2015 |
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| term_start4 = 29 April 1995 |
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| term_end4 = 11 November 1999 |
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| title4 = Liberal Democrat portfolios |
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| suboffice4 = [[Department for Transport|Transport]] |
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| subterm4 = 2003–2005 |
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| suboffice5 = [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills|Business, Innovation and Skills]] |
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| term_start5 = 20 April 2016 |
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| subterm5 = 2008–2010 |
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| 1blankname5 = [[By-elections to the House of Lords|By-election]] |
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| 1namedata5 = 20 April 2016 |
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| successor5 = |
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| term_start6 = 7 June 2001 |
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| term_end6 = 30 March 2015 |
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| birth_name = John Archibald Sinclair |
| birth_name = John Archibald Sinclair |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|9|10|df=y}} |
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|9|10|df=y}} |
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| education = [[Eton College]] |
| education = [[Eton College]] |
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}} |
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'''John Archibald Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|PC}} (born 10 September 1953), known also as '''John Thurso''', is a Scottish businessman, [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] politician and [[hereditary peer]] who is notable for having served in the [[House of Lords]] both before and after a period in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. |
'''John Archibald Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|PC}} (born 10 September 1953), known also as '''John Thurso''', is a Scottish businessman, [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] politician and [[hereditary peer]] who is notable for having served in the [[House of Lords]] both before and after a period in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. |
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Born to the [[Sinclair family]], Lord Thurso was educated at [[Eton College]] before entering management roles in the tourism and hospitality industry. He first joined [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] in the House of Lords as a [[hereditary peer]] in 1995 and served until 1999, when he was among the majority of hereditary peers who were removed from Parliament following the [[House of Lords Act 1999]]. |
Born to the [[Sinclair family]], Lord Thurso was educated at [[Eton College]] before entering management roles in the tourism and hospitality industry. He first joined [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] in the House of Lords as a [[hereditary peer]] in 1995 and served until 1999, when he was among the majority of hereditary peers who were removed from Parliament following the [[House of Lords Act 1999]]. |
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==Education and early career== |
==Education and early career== |
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[[Image:Ancient Hunting Sinclair.JPG|thumb|left|Ancient hunting tartan of [[Clan Sinclair]].]] |
[[Image:Ancient Hunting Sinclair.JPG|thumb|left|Ancient hunting tartan of [[Clan Sinclair]].]] |
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Thurso was born as John Archibald Sinclair to the high-profile [[Sinclair family]] and was educated in the Scottish town of [[Thurso]] |
Thurso was born as John Archibald Sinclair to the high-profile [[Sinclair family]] and was educated in the Scottish town of [[Thurso]] and then at [[Eton College]]. He joined the Savoy Group as a management trainee in 1972, and worked for many years in the tourism and hospitality industry. He was a manager at the Lancaster Hotel in Paris (1981–1985) and founded the hotel at [[Cliveden]] (1985–1992) before becoming CEO of Granfel Holdings, owners of East Sussex National Golf Course (1992–1995). From 1995 until his election to Parliament in 2001, he was CEO of the [[Champneys]] Group. During his time in this job he featured in the TV documentary ''[[Trouble at the Top|Trouble at the Top – Shape up with Lord Thurso]]''. |
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==House of Commons== |
==House of Commons== |
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Following his father's death in 1995, he took his seat in the [[House of Lords]] as the 3rd Viscount Thurso where he became spokesman on |
Following his father's death in 1995, he took his seat in the [[House of Lords]] as the 3rd Viscount Thurso, where he became spokesman on tourism and later on food matters. Thurso spoke many times in the House of Lords in favour of [[Lords reform]]. His automatic right as a [[hereditary peer]] to sit in the House of Lords was abolished in 1999, and he did not attempt to remain in that capacity.<ref>{{cite web |last=Parkinson |first=Justin |title=John Thurso: The hereditary peer who became an MP |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12419022 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 December 2011 |date=22 February 2011}}</ref> At the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], he was elected to the House of Commons as the MP for [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross]]. |
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He served as Liberal Democrat Scotland spokesperson under [[Charles Kennedy]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Uncredited|title=Kennedy boosts his frontbench team|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/kennedy_boosts_his_frontbench_team_1_582679|work=The Scotsman|access-date=29 December 2011|date=3 November 2001}}</ref> but was sacked by [[Sir Menzies Campbell]]. He has publicly gone against party policy by declaring his support for [[nuclear power]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Rob|title=Nuclear power: splitting the LibDems and Labour|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/997967111.html?dids=997967111:997967111&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+05%2C+2006&author=INVESTIGATION+By+Rob+Edwards+Environment+Editor&pub=Sunday+Herald&desc=Nuclear+power%3A+splitting+the+LibDems+and+Labour+ENERGY%3A+FISSIONS+ENERGY%3A+FISSIONS+Row+over+lobbyist's+funding+as+MP+threatens+to+quit+post&pqatl=google|work=Sunday Herald|access-date=29 December 2011|date=5 March 2006}}</ref> and his criticism of [[Licensing Act 2003|24-hour drinking]] and [[wind power]]. |
He served as Liberal Democrat Scotland spokesperson under [[Charles Kennedy]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Uncredited |title=Kennedy boosts his frontbench team |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/kennedy_boosts_his_frontbench_team_1_582679 |work=The Scotsman |access-date=29 December 2011 |date=3 November 2001}}</ref> but was sacked by [[Sir Menzies Campbell]]. He has publicly gone against party policy by declaring his support for [[nuclear power]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Edwards |first=Rob |title=Nuclear power: splitting the LibDems and Labour |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/997967111.html?dids=997967111:997967111&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+05%2C+2006&author=INVESTIGATION+By+Rob+Edwards+Environment+Editor&pub=Sunday+Herald&desc=Nuclear+power%3A+splitting+the+LibDems+and+Labour+ENERGY%3A+FISSIONS+ENERGY%3A+FISSIONS+Row+over+lobbyist's+funding+as+MP+threatens+to+quit+post&pqatl=google |work=Sunday Herald |access-date=29 December 2011 |date=5 March 2006}}</ref> and by his criticism of [[Licensing Act 2003|24-hour drinking]] and [[wind power]]. |
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Lord Thurso was sworn of the [[Privy Council]] in 2014.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointments-july-2014 Lord Thurso was sworn of the Privy Council in 2014], gov.uk; accessed 8 May 2015.</ref> |
Lord Thurso was sworn of the [[Privy Council]] in 2014.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointments-july-2014 Lord Thurso was sworn of the Privy Council in 2014], gov.uk; accessed 8 May 2015.</ref> He lost his [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross]] seat at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] to [[Paul Monaghan (politician)|Paul Monaghan]] of the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP). However, Lord Thurso had a good result in comparison with many [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] candidates. Only four Scottish Liberal Democrat candidates were closer to winning their seats, including [[Alistair Carmichael]], who was the only Liberal Democrat candidate in Scotland to retain [[Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)|his seat]] at that year's general election. |
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== Return to the House of Lords and later career == |
== Return to the House of Lords and later career == |
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Following the 2015 general election, Thurso became a board member of the [[Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://parliamentarystandards.org.uk/About%20Us/Pages/Board-members-and-chief-executive.aspx|title=ISPA Board members}}</ref> In April 2016, he won a [[By-elections to the House of Lords|by-election]] to a vacancy in the House of Lords following the death of [[Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury|Lord Avebury]].<ref name="lords byelec">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36084455 |title=Former Lib Dem MP John Thurso to return to House of Lords |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=19 April 2016 |access-date=19 April 2016}}</ref> He won the support of all of the three members who were eligible to vote.<ref name="lords byelec" /> In 2017, Thurso was appointed as [[Lord Lieutenant of Caithness]].<ref>[http://www.burkespeerage.com/ Profile], burkespeerage.com; accessed 8 May 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lord-lieutenant-for-caithness-viscount-thurso|title=Lord Lieutenant for Caithness: Viscount Thurso|publisher=[[10 Downing Street]]|date=17 August 2017|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref> |
Following the 2015 general election, Thurso became a board member of the [[Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://parliamentarystandards.org.uk/About%20Us/Pages/Board-members-and-chief-executive.aspx|title=ISPA Board members|access-date=8 March 2016|archive-date=15 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115094820/http://parliamentarystandards.org.uk/About%20Us/Pages/Board-members-and-chief-executive.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2016, he won a [[By-elections to the House of Lords|by-election]] to fill a vacancy in the House of Lords following the death of [[Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury|Lord Avebury]].<ref name="lords byelec">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36084455 |title=Former Lib Dem MP John Thurso to return to House of Lords |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=19 April 2016 |access-date=19 April 2016}}</ref> He won the support of all of the three members who were eligible to vote.<ref name="lords byelec" /> In 2017, Thurso was appointed as [[Lord Lieutenant of Caithness]].<ref>[http://www.burkespeerage.com/ Profile], burkespeerage.com; accessed 8 May 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lord-lieutenant-for-caithness-viscount-thurso|title=Lord Lieutenant for Caithness: Viscount Thurso|publisher=[[10 Downing Street]]|date=17 August 2017|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref> |
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Thurso holds the presidencies of The Tourism Society<ref>{{cite web|last=www.directtourismservices.co.uk|first=Direct Tourism Services -|title=The Tourism Society – People in all the right places|url=http://www.tourismsociety.org/|website=www.tourismsociety.org}}</ref> and the Academy of Food and Wine Service.<ref>{{cite web|title=Academy of Food and Wine Service – The Academy is the Professional body for Front of House Service Personnel|url=http://www.afws.co.uk/|website=www.afws.co.uk}}</ref> He is a [[fellow]] of [[Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality]] (HCIMA) (FIH) and served as its [[Patron]] for six years, until June 2003. He was President of the British International Spa Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=BISA Council and Associates|url=http://www.spaassociation.org.uk/bisa/council-and-associates|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105173327/http://www.spaassociation.org.uk/bisa/council-and-associates|archive-date=5 January 2009|publisher=spaassociation.org.uk}}</ref> On 7 March 2016, it was announced that Lord Thurso would become the chair of [[VisitScotland]].<ref>{{Cite |
Thurso holds the presidencies of The Tourism Society<ref>{{cite web|last=www.directtourismservices.co.uk|first=Direct Tourism Services -|title=The Tourism Society – People in all the right places|url=http://www.tourismsociety.org/|website=www.tourismsociety.org|access-date=8 July 2012|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418150115/http://tourismsociety.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Academy of Food and Wine Service.<ref>{{cite web|title=Academy of Food and Wine Service – The Academy is the Professional body for Front of House Service Personnel|url=http://www.afws.co.uk/|website=www.afws.co.uk}}</ref> He is a [[fellow]] of the [[Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality]] (HCIMA) (FIH) and served as its [[Patron]] for six years, until June 2003. He was President of the British International Spa Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=BISA Council and Associates|url=http://www.spaassociation.org.uk/bisa/council-and-associates|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105173327/http://www.spaassociation.org.uk/bisa/council-and-associates|archive-date=5 January 2009|publisher=spaassociation.org.uk}}</ref> On 7 March 2016, it was announced that Lord Thurso would become the chair of [[VisitScotland]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=John Thurso to chair VisitScotland|work=BBC News |date=7 March 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-35744760|access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref> |
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== Personal life == |
== Personal life == |
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==Arms== |
==Arms== |
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{{Emblem table |
{{Emblem table |
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|image = [[File:Coronet of a British Viscount.svg|170px|centre]] [[File:Arms of the Viscount Thurso.svg|200px|centre]] |
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|image = |
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|crest = A Star of six points waved Argent rising from a Cloud Proper |
|crest = A Star of six points waved Argent rising from a Cloud Proper |
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|coronet = A [[Coronet|Viscount]]'s coronet |
|coronet = A [[Coronet|Viscount]]'s coronet |
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{{s-bef|before=[[Robert Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart|Robert Maclennan]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Scottish MPs|Member of Parliament]] for [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross]]|years=[[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]]–[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]}} |
{{s-ttl|title=[[Scottish MPs|Member of Parliament]] for [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross]]|years=[[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]]–[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[Paul Monaghan (politician)|Paul Monaghan]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Liberal Democrat frontbench team|Liberal Democrat Business, Innovation, and Skills Spokesperson]]|years=2008–2010}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[Vince Cable]] {{nobold|(2015)}}}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Lord Lieutenant of Caithness]]|years=2017–present}} |
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[[Category:1953 births]] |
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[[Category:Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs]] |
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[[Category:Viscounts in the Peerage of the United Kingdom|Thurso, John Sinclair, 3rd Viscount]] |
[[Category:Viscounts in the Peerage of the United Kingdom|Thurso, John Sinclair, 3rd Viscount]] |
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[[Category:UK MPs who inherited peerages]] |
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[[Category:Scottish people of American descent]] |
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[[Category:Hereditary peers removed under the House of Lords Act 1999|Thurso]] |
Revision as of 22:24, 16 June 2024
The Viscount Thurso | |
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![]() Official portrait, 2018 | |
Chair of the Finance and Services Committee | |
In office 6 May 2010 – 8 May 2015 | |
Preceded by | Stuart Bell |
Succeeded by | Nick Brown |
Member of the House of Lords | |
Lord Temporal | |
as a hereditary peer 31 October 1995 – 11 November 1999 | |
Preceded by | The 2nd Viscount Thurso |
Succeeded by | Seat abolished [a] |
as an elected hereditary peer [a] 19 April 2016 | |
Preceded by | The Lord Avebury |
Member of Parliament for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross | |
In office 7 June 2001 – 30 March 2015 | |
Preceded by | Robert Maclennan |
Succeeded by | Paul Monaghan |
Liberal Democrat portfolios | |
2003–2005 | Transport |
2008–2010 | Business, Innovation and Skills |
Personal details | |
Born | John Archibald Sinclair 10 September 1953 Thurso, Caithness, Scotland |
Political party | Liberal Democrats |
Spouse | Marion Sage |
Children | 1 daughter, 2 sons |
Bildung | Eton College |
John Archibald Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso, PC (born 10 September 1953), known also as John Thurso, is a Scottish businessman, Liberal Democrat politician and hereditary peer who is notable for having served in the House of Lords both before and after a period in the House of Commons.
Born to the Sinclair family, Lord Thurso was educated at Eton College before entering management roles in the tourism and hospitality industry. He first joined Parliament in the House of Lords as a hereditary peer in 1995 and served until 1999, when he was among the majority of hereditary peers who were removed from Parliament following the House of Lords Act 1999.
Thurso was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross at the 2001 general election, becoming the fifth generation of the Sinclair family to represent the Caithness area in the House of Commons. He held the seat until he was defeated at the 2015 general election by the Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate, Paul Monaghan. During his time serving in the Commons, Lord Thurso was chair of the Finance and Services Committee from 2010 to 2015. In 2016, Thurso returned to the House of Lords after winning a by-election to fill a vacancy among the remaining Liberal Democrat hereditary peers. He became chair of VisitScotland in 2016 and later became Lord Lieutenant of Caithness in 2017.
Education and early career
Thurso was born as John Archibald Sinclair to the high-profile Sinclair family and was educated in the Scottish town of Thurso and then at Eton College. He joined the Savoy Group as a management trainee in 1972, and worked for many years in the tourism and hospitality industry. He was a manager at the Lancaster Hotel in Paris (1981–1985) and founded the hotel at Cliveden (1985–1992) before becoming CEO of Granfel Holdings, owners of East Sussex National Golf Course (1992–1995). From 1995 until his election to Parliament in 2001, he was CEO of the Champneys Group. During his time in this job he featured in the TV documentary Trouble at the Top – Shape up with Lord Thurso.
House of Commons
Following his father's death in 1995, he took his seat in the House of Lords as the 3rd Viscount Thurso, where he became spokesman on tourism and later on food matters. Thurso spoke many times in the House of Lords in favour of Lords reform. His automatic right as a hereditary peer to sit in the House of Lords was abolished in 1999, and he did not attempt to remain in that capacity.[1] At the 2001 general election, he was elected to the House of Commons as the MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.
He served as Liberal Democrat Scotland spokesperson under Charles Kennedy,[2] but was sacked by Sir Menzies Campbell. He has publicly gone against party policy by declaring his support for nuclear power,[3] and by his criticism of 24-hour drinking and wind power.
Lord Thurso was sworn of the Privy Council in 2014.[4] He lost his Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross seat at the 2015 general election to Paul Monaghan of the Scottish National Party (SNP). However, Lord Thurso had a good result in comparison with many Liberal Democrat candidates. Only four Scottish Liberal Democrat candidates were closer to winning their seats, including Alistair Carmichael, who was the only Liberal Democrat candidate in Scotland to retain his seat at that year's general election.
Return to the House of Lords and later career
Following the 2015 general election, Thurso became a board member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.[5] In April 2016, he won a by-election to fill a vacancy in the House of Lords following the death of Lord Avebury.[6] He won the support of all of the three members who were eligible to vote.[6] In 2017, Thurso was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of Caithness.[7][8]
Thurso holds the presidencies of The Tourism Society[9] and the Academy of Food and Wine Service.[10] He is a fellow of the Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality (HCIMA) (FIH) and served as its Patron for six years, until June 2003. He was President of the British International Spa Association.[11] On 7 March 2016, it was announced that Lord Thurso would become the chair of VisitScotland.[12]
Personal life
Thurso comes from a family of Liberal parliamentarians. The former constituency of Caithness and Sutherland had been held by his grandfather, Archibald Sinclair, from 1922 until 1945. Archibald Sinclair was the 1st Viscount Thurso and a Liberal Party leader. Thurso has been married to Marion for 26 years and they have a daughter and two sons. The family live at Thurso, Caithness.
As a patron of the Bluebell Railway 50th Anniversary Appeal, on 24 April 2009, at the railway's Horsted Keynes station Thurso carried out the ceremonial renaming of the Battle of Britain class locomotive named after his grandfather, Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary of State for Air during that battle.[13]
Arms
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See also
Notes
- ^ a b Under the House of Lords Act 1999.
References
- ^ Parkinson, Justin (22 February 2011). "John Thurso: The hereditary peer who became an MP". BBC News. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ Uncredited (3 November 2001). "Kennedy boosts his frontbench team". The Scotsman. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ Edwards, Rob (5 March 2006). "Nuclear power: splitting the LibDems and Labour". Sunday Herald. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ Lord Thurso was sworn of the Privy Council in 2014, gov.uk; accessed 8 May 2015.
- ^ "ISPA Board members". Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Former Lib Dem MP John Thurso to return to House of Lords". BBC News. BBC. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ Profile, burkespeerage.com; accessed 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Lord Lieutenant for Caithness: Viscount Thurso". 10 Downing Street. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ www.directtourismservices.co.uk, Direct Tourism Services -. "The Tourism Society – People in all the right places". www.tourismsociety.org. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ "Academy of Food and Wine Service – The Academy is the Professional body for Front of House Service Personnel". www.afws.co.uk.
- ^ "BISA Council and Associates". spaassociation.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009.
- ^ "John Thurso to chair VisitScotland". BBC News. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ Profile bulleidsociety.org; accessed 8 May 2015.
External links
- John Thurso MP official site
- Profile at the Liberal Democrats
- Profile at the Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
- 1953 births
- Living people
- People from Thurso
- Nobility from Highland (council area)
- Liberal Democrats (UK) hereditary peers
- Lord-Lieutenants of Caithness
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- People educated at Eton College
- 20th-century Scottish businesspeople
- 21st-century Scottish businesspeople
- Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs
- Viscounts in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
- UK MPs 2001–2005
- UK MPs 2005–2010
- UK MPs 2010–2015
- UK MPs who inherited peerages
- Hereditary peers elected to the House of Commons
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Highland constituencies
- Scottish people of American descent
- Clan Sinclair
- Hereditary peers elected under the House of Lords Act 1999
- Hereditary peers removed under the House of Lords Act 1999