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. 38: Sir Robert Balchin
A reader from London writes:
"I’d like to nominate Sir Robert Balchin, the Conservative educationalist and Pro-Chancellor of Brunel University. Sir Robert was a key adviser to Margaret Thatcher and John Major in government, and as Chairman of the Grant Maintained Schools Council did more than almost anyone else in those years to advance the cause of school freedom. Since the Conservatives have been in Opposition, he has remained an adviser to successive Shadow Education teams as Chair of the Education Commission and President of the Conservative National Education Society.
“In 2005 David Cameron asked him to chair a review of Special Needs provision, and his Commission’s reports have continued to inform policy in this area. There are precious few Conservative-leaning education experts, and Sir Robert is rumoured to have turned down overtures to join New Labour’s big tent when others gave into temptation and were bought off with peerages or advisory positions in Tony Blair’s government. He has been a teacher and lecturer and has many charitable interests, as Founder Chairman of The English Schools Orchestra and of the League of Mercy, a charity which encourages and recognises voluntary work in caring for the sick.
“Many believe he would be a perfect candidate to become a reforming minister in the next Conservative Government, bringing his years of expertise and passion for raising education standards to bear on state education."
> Previous nomination: John Marshall
