Norman Baker
Norman John Baker (born 26 July 1957) is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Lewes in East Sussex since 1997. He gained a reputation for uncovering scandal and exposing conflicts of interest and uncomfortable facts, being one of the first to criticise the Millennium Dome project, and largely contributing to Peter Mandelson’s second resignation over his relations with the Hinduja brothers. Baker encouraged the Director of Public Prosecutions to reopen or reconsider six cases involving female genital mutilation. The first prosecution took place in February 2014.
Political Career
Baker originally contested the seat of Lewes in 1992 but failed to get elected. He did however get elected in 1997 to Lewes as Liberal Democrat MP. He joined the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet in October 2002 as Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, and from 2005 as Shadow Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Secretary. In May 2006 he stepped down from the Shadow Cabinet, announcing that he intended to concentrate on further investigation of unanswered questions about the death of Dr David Kelly, the scientist found dead in 2003 after being named as the possible source of a BBC story on the Government’s dossier justifying the invasion of Iraq. His book on the matter, The Strange Death of David Kelly, was published in late 2007. At around the same time, he rejoined the Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.In autumn 2007, he was appointed as the UK President of the Tibet Society and visited His Holiness The Dalai Lama in northern India.
In December 2007 Norman was promoted and appointed Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Transport by the new party leader, Nick Clegg. This allowed Norman to continue with his environmental interests by campaigning for better and greener public transport.
Following the 2010 General Election, Norman was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, as part of the Coalition Government, and served this position until October 2013. After serving the Department for Transport for over three years, Norman was promoted and appointed to Minister of State for Crime Prevention at the Home Office in October 2013.
Education
Norman Baker was educated at the the Royal Liberty School, Gidea Park. He attended Royal Holloway College, University of London and graduated with a German degree.
