Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Baron Bruce-Lockhart

Alexander John Bruce - Lockhart OBE ( born May 4, 1942 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire; † 14 August 2008), known as Sandy Bruce - Lockhart, was a British politician ( Conservative Party ). As Chairman of Kent County Council and later the Local Government Association (LGA ), he was an influential figure in the British regional policy. After his resignation as chairman of the LGA Bruce - Lockhart was 2007 Chairman of English Heritage. Since 2006, he sat as a life peer in the British House of Lords, the House of Lords.

Life and career

Bruce - Lockhart was born into a Scottish family, which had close links with the church and the diplomatic service. His father was deputy director of MI6 in Wakefield in West Yorkshire. He attended the Dragon School in Oxford, the Sedbergh School and the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. Great Britain, he left to operate in what was then Rhodesia a large farm for a South African owners. After a stay in Australia, he returned in 1968 back to Kent, where he owned a farm in Headcorn. There he was elected in 1989 in the Kent County council ( County Council ), in which he became the leader of the opposition Conservatives in 1993. 1997 Bruce - Lockhart was elected Chairman of the Council. From this office he resigned in 2005. He was succeeded by Sir Simon Milton, Chairman of Westminster Council. As Chairman of Kent County Council Bruce - Lockhart became a controversial figure on the political stage of Britain, as he introduced a local version of Clause 28 Clause against the " promotion of homosexuality ", after it was canceled at the national level. In an article in the Guardian in October 2000, Bruce - Lockhart is considered probably the most powerful Tory in Britain ( "probably the most powerful Tory in Britain" ) referred.

In July 2004, after two years as a vice, he was Chairman of the Local Government Association after the Tories had there get the majority. In December 2002, he was named in the New Year list Very Knight Bachelor, after an OBE had previously been awarded to him. On 9 June 2006, he was raised as Baron Bruce - Lockhart of the Weald, Kent, for Life Peer. Was notified on 24 May 2007 that he was appointed Chairman of English Heritage.

Bruce - Lockhart was a passionate advocate of decentralized administration and sought to assume greater responsibilities for the counties and individual municipalities. In 2006, he told Ruth Kelly, then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: "We must give people back power and influence over Their Lives, Their local services, and the future of places wherethey live. "

Lord Bruce - Lockhart was married to Tess Press Country since 1966. They have two sons and a daughter. On 17 June 2008 he was elected an honorary citizen of the city of Canterbury. After a battle with cancer, he died in August 2008.