Nationality British Religion Anglican Occupation Politician Education Newcastle University | Alma mater Newcastle University Role British Politician Children 2 sons; 2 daughters Name Rupert 6th | |
 | ||
Born 18 July 1967 (age 56)
London ( 1967-07-18 ) Spouse(s) Helen nee Shipsey
(The Lady Redesdale) | ||
Political party Liberal Democrats | ||
Rupert Mitford, 6th Baron Redesdale (born 18 July 1967) is a British hereditary peer, Liberal Democrat politician and member of the prominent Mitford family.
Biography
Mitford was educated at Milton Abbey and Highgate School, before going up to Newcastle University, where he graduated with the degree of B.A..
He succeeded his father as 6th Baron Redesdale, of Redesdale, Co. Northumberland, in 1991.
Following the removal of hereditary peers' automatic right to a seat in Parliament by the House of Lords Act 1999, the Liberal Democrats took advantage of an offer from the New Labour Government for some of their hereditary peers to return to the House as working peers. Redesdale was created a Life Peer on 18 April 2000, as Baron Mitford, of Redesdale in the county of Northumberland. At the age of 32, he was the youngest person ever to receive a life peerage. By convention, the House of Lords refer to peers holding multiple titles by whichever is senior within the peerage. Thus Mitford is known in records of the House as 'Lord Redesdale'.
He is a first cousin once removed of the famous Mitford sisters, daughters of 2nd Baron Redesdale. One of the sisters Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire was, with her husband, the 11th Duke, active in the Social Democratic Party. This later merged with the Liberal Party to become the Liberal Democrats, for whom Redesdale sits in the House of Lords.
Redesdale has spoken on various issues on behalf of the Lib Dem Parliamentary Party, such as the environment, international development, science and technology. He is patron of various societies, including one encouraged by his parliamentary colleagues, namely the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership, which advocates strict control of the grey squirrel population so as to enhance the chance of red squirrels' survival. Redesdale is currently the CEO of the Carbon Management Association and the Energy Managers Association. Since 2012, Redesdale has been founding Chairman of the Carbon Management Association and of the Energy Managers Association.
Lord Redesdale lives with his wife and four children near Tufnell Park, north London as well as in Northumberland.
The heir apparent to the title is Hon Bertram Mitford, born in 2000.