Constituency : Thornaby 1974-81 ( Labour ), Stockton South 1981-7 ( SDP )
Ian was one of the younger MPs to make the jump from Labour. He was also involved with organising the official launch of the party.
Ian was a local man educated at Stockton Grammar School and the College of St Mark and St John, Chelsea. He became a banker.
Ian was closely involved with the right wing Manifesto Group and along with Bill Rodgers and John Cartwright set up the Campaign for Labour Victory. From 1974 to 1977 he was PPS to Roy Jenkins.
Ian volunteered to swap seats with Bill Rodgers but the latter declined feeling Ian had the better chance in the constituency. Ian won the seat by the skin of his teeth when the Tory candidate was exposed as a former member of the National Front.
Ian was narrowly defeated in 1987. He was elected first president of the Liberal Democrats in 1988 defeating professional agitator Des Wilson. He served until 1990 guiding the party through a very rocky first couple of years. He was knighted in 1991.
Ian then went into business and has held a number of directorships mainly of companies based in the north east. Due to his burgeoning business interests, Ian declined to stand again in 1992 and the Liberal Democrat vote in Stockton South evaporated. He retired in 2012 and was elevated to the lords the following year. He accepted the role of Party Treasurer which he still holds.
He is now 79.
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