Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords.
If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, ideally including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.
No. 22: Don Porter CBE
Conor Burns writes:
"Someone seeking membership of either House of Parliament must have more than a passing interest in the political party they are seeking to serve. One man who has a whole career of service to the party and has used it always to advance the cause of the party and not himself is Don Porter.
"First becoming involved as a YC in Macclesfield he was active at Lancaster University in the 1970s. He has held almost every post possible in the voluntary party being a former Branch Treasurer, Association Treasurer and Chairman in Woking. He was a founded member of the South Eastern Area Training Team, a former Area Treasurer and Southern Region Coordinator.
"He was President of the National Conservative Convention until 2004 and chaired the Party Conference in 2003 in Blackpool. Since March 2006, he has been Chairman of the National Conservative Convention and Deputy Chairman of the Party. Don has always been a staunch advocate for the rights of the ordinary members of the party but has always made his arguments in private and without disloyalty.
"However, years of party service should not, these days, be merit alone to warrant a peerage. But Don combines real work for the party with a distinguished career in the private sector. He joined British Airways in 1977 as a management trainee and worked on establishing the airline's world wide customer service monitor, covering all parts of the business. Between 1983 and 1985, Don played a major role in the development of British Airways' company-wide Customer Service programme working closely with Sir Colin Marshall, the airline's Chief Executive. Following this role, Don was appointed to head up the airline's Sales and Marketing Training Department.
"Don joined Lloyds Bank in 1986 as Chief Manager, Corporate Communications. In 1988, Don co-founded MSB, a leading management consultancy in the areas of culture change, customer service and people development. He remains as Joint Managing Director today.
"Don Porter's service to the Conservative Party combined with his vast commercial experience would make him a huge asset to our team in the House of Lords and there would be no doubt that Don would be a proper 'working' peer in every sense of the word. He is also one of the most honest and decent people involved in politics."
I happily second everything Conor says above. Don would truly be an asset to the party in the Upper House.
Jonathan Isaby
> Previous nomination: Brian Walden
