# Howard Flight > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Howard_Flight > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Howard_Flight.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Flight > Source revision: 1348894994 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British politician (1948–2026)}} {{Use British English|date=July 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [The Right Honourable](/source/The_Right_Honourable) | name = The Lord Flight | honorific_suffix = | image = Official portrait of Lord Flight crop 2.jpg | office = [Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party](/source/Deputy_Chairman_of_the_Conservative%26nbsp%3BParty) | term_start = 1 December 2004 | term_end = 1 March 2005 | leader = [Michael Howard](/source/Michael_Howard) | predecessor = | successor = | office1 = [Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury](/source/Shadow_Chief_Secretary_to_the_Treasury) | term_start1 = 23 July 2002 | term_end1 = 14 July 2004 | leader1 = [Iain Duncan Smith](/source/Iain_Duncan_Smith)
Michael Howard | predecessor1 = [John Bercow](/source/John_Bercow) | successor1 = [George Osborne](/source/George_Osborne) | office2 = [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom))
for [Arundel and South Downs](/source/Arundel_and_South_Downs) | parliament2 = | majority2 = | term_start2 = 1 May 1997 | term_end2 = 11 April 2005 | predecessor2 = ''Constituency established'' | successor2 = [Nick Herbert](/source/Nick_Herbert) | office3 = Member of the [House of Lords](/source/House_of_Lords) | status3 = [Lord Temporal](/source/Lord_Temporal) | term_label3 = [Life peer](/source/Life_peer)age | term_start3 = 13 January 2011 | term_end3 = 24 January 2026 | birth_date = {{birth date|1948|06|16|df=yes}} | birth_place = [Romford](/source/Romford), [east London](/source/east_London), England | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|01|24|1948|06|16|df=yes}} | birth_name = | party = [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) | spouse = {{marriage|Christabel Flight|1974}} | relations = | children = 4 | alma_mater = {{ubil|[University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan) (MBA)|{{nobr|[Magdalene College, Cambridge](/source/Magdalene%26thinsp%3BCollege%2C%26thinsp%3BCambridge)}} (BA)}} | occupation = Politician | profession = | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | signature = | footnotes = }} '''Howard Emerson Flight, Baron Flight''' (16 June 1948 – 24 January 2026) was a British [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) politician who was a member of the [House of Lords](/source/House_of_Lords){{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120509201420/http://www.epolitix.com/policy/parliament/parliament-article/newsarticle/former-mps-go-to-the-lords/ Former MPs go to the Lords]}}, ''ePolitix'', 19 November 2010 after serving as a [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)) for [Arundel and South Downs](/source/Arundel_and_South_Downs) from [1997](/source/1997_United_Kingdom_general_election) to [2005](/source/2005_United_Kingdom_general_election). He held several Shadow posts: [Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury](/source/Shadow_Economic_Secretary_to_the_Treasury) from 1999 to 2001, [Shadow Paymaster General](/source/Shadow_Paymaster_General) from 2001 to 2002, and [Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury](/source/Shadow_Chief_Secretary_to_the_Treasury) from 2002 to 2004. == Background == Howard Flight was born on June 16, 1948 in [Romford](/source/Romford), [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom). He is the son of Bernard Flight, regional head of the Westminster Bank’s trustee department, and his wife, Doris Parker.{{cite news |title=Lord Flight, City success story and ambitious would-be Chancellor defenestrated by Michael Howard |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2026/01/27/howard-flight-guinness-mahon-tory-mp-arundel-michael/ |accessdate=February 1, 2026 |publisher=[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)}} Flight was educated at [Brentwood School](/source/Brentwood_School%2C_Essex), [Magdalene College, Cambridge](/source/Magdalene_College%2C_Cambridge) and the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan)'s [Ross School of Business](/source/Ross_School_of_Business). From 1970 to 1998 he worked as an investment adviser and director in various banks. Flight was author of ''All you Need to know about Exchange Rates'' (1989), and contributor to the book ''[The City in Europe and the World](/source/The_City_in_Europe_and_the_World)'' (2005). He was married to Christabel from 1974 to his death; they had four children: Kitty, Thomas, Josie and Maryanne.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/-howard-flight/25644|title=House of Lords Profile|website=Parliament.uk|access-date=1 November 2021}} His wife, entitled to be known as Lady Flight, was previously a councillor representing Warwick ward on [Westminster City Council](/source/Westminster_City_Council), and served as [Lord mayor of Westminster](/source/List_of_mayors_of_Westminster). Flight died on 24 January 2026, at the age of 77.{{cite news |title=Lord Flight, City success story and ambitious would-be Chancellor brutally defenestrated by Howard |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2026/01/27/howard-flight-guinness-mahon-tory-mp-arundel-michael/ |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=27 January 2026 |url-access=registration}} == Political career == Flight stood unsuccessfully for Parliament for [Bermondsey](/source/Bermondsey_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) in the [February](/source/February_1974_United_Kingdom_general_election) and [October 1974 general elections](/source/October_1974_United_Kingdom_general_election). He resigned as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party on 24 March 2005, following comments made at a [Conservative Way Forward](/source/Conservative_Way_Forward) meeting that was being secretly recorded. In the meeting he stated that the Conservatives in office could make more spending cuts than they were promising in their campaign (including in their [manifesto](/source/manifesto)) before the general election. Conservative leader [Michael Howard](/source/Michael_Howard) that month withdrew the party whip, and announced that Flight was no longer an approved candidate and could not contest the Arundel and South Downs seat as a Conservative party candidate at the [2005 general election](/source/2005_United_Kingdom_general_election). Flight refused to accept this, maintaining that only his constituency Conservative Association had the power to deselect its candidate. On 29 March 2005 he announced that he had an opinion from a [Queen's Counsel](/source/Queen's_Counsel) (an eminent [barrister](/source/barrister)) confirming this view. The Arundel and South Downs Conservative Association initially refused to seek a new candidate, but it reversed its position when [Conservative Central Office](/source/Conservative_Central_Office) threatened it with the "[Slough](/source/Slough_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) treatment", referring to the suspension of that association for refusing to deselect Adrian Hilton. Amid speculation, Flight confirmed that he would not stand as an [independent](/source/Independent_politician) and would not oppose any decision by the Association to deselect him.[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4386439.stm Flight fight to save career], [BBC News](/source/BBC_News), 28 March 2005 === Elections === On 6 April, Flight was deselected as a Conservative candidate by then-party leader [Michael Howard](/source/Michael_Howard), and removed from his role as party deputy chairman,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/apr/06/election2005.uk7|title=Flight gives up the fight|last=Happold|first=Tom|date=6 April 2005|website=The Guardian|access-date=7 June 2016}} and his party began the process of selecting a new last-minute candidate. [Anne Marie Morris](/source/Anne_Marie_Morris), [Laura Sandys](/source/Laura_Sandys), and [Nick Herbert](/source/Nick_Herbert) put themselves forward for nomination as replacement candidates. The chosen candidate, Nick Herbert, won the seat at the election. Some years later, after a change of party leader, Flight was placed on the [A-List](/source/Conservative_A-List) of Conservative Party candidates available to fight the 2010 general election,{{cite web|url=https://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2006/05/as_promised_thi.html|title=Who is on the A-list?|website=Conservativehome.blogs.com|access-date=1 November 2021}} but in the event he was one of minority on that list not selected as a candidate in [open primaries](/source/open_primaries) and/or with party recommendation. On 19 November 2010, it was announced that Flight was to be created a [life peer](/source/life_peer) and would sit as a [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) in the [House of Lords](/source/House_of_Lords).[http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/11/peerages-honours-and-appointments-2-57256 Peerages honours and appointments] at number10.gov.uk His full title, created 13 January 2011, was '''Baron Flight''', of [Worcester](/source/Worcester%2C_England) in the [County of Worcestershire](/source/Worcestershire).{{London Gazette |issue=59676 |date=20 January 2011 |page=869}} On 25 November 2010, a week after the announcement of his intended peerage, Flight apologised after suggesting that the government's changes to child benefits would "discourage the middle classes from breeding, but for those on benefits there is every incentive".{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Peter|title=Tory peer Howard Flight apologises over poor people 'breeding' comments|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/nov/25/howard-flight-rebuked-no-10-poor-people-breeding|access-date=25 November 2010|newspaper=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)|date=25 November 2010}} === Peerage received and other roles=== Flight was raised to the peerage in January 2011. He was a director of companies, including [Investec](/source/Investec), a venture capital company, his own private equity company, and was chairman of the Entrepreneurs Investment Scheme (EIS) Association of lawyers and accountants, a trustee and Vice President of the [Elgar Foundation](/source/Edward_Elgar), a Member of the Advisory Boards of the [Centre for Policy Studies](/source/Centre_for_Policy_Studies), [Institute of Economic Affairs](/source/Institute_of_Economic_Affairs) and [Financial Services Forum](/source/Financial_Services_Forum). ==Arms== {{Infobox COA wide |image = centre|150px centre|200px |image size = |notes = |year_adopted = |coronet = [Coronet of a Baron](/source/Coronet) |escutcheon = Sable, on a Chevron Or, between three Bezants, each charged with a Cony courant Sable, a Fleur-de-lis between two Doves respectant Sable. |crest = Issuant from an Eastern Crown, a pair of Wings Or, between them a Saracen's Head couped at the shoulders Sable, ducally crowned Or, and issuant therefrom a Long Cap the top turned forward Sable. |supporters = '''''Dexter:''''' a Bengal Tiger proper, resting the interior hind-foot on a Bezant. '''''Sinister:''''' a Chinese Dragon Or, armed Gules, resting the interior hind-foot on a Bezant. |compartment = |motto = '''DEI TUTAMEN TUTIS''' ''(Safely protected by God)'' |orders = |other_elements = |banner = |badge = |symbolism = |previous_versions = }} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/?pid=10201 Speeches in Parliament & other performance data] {{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-new|constituency}} {{s-ttl|title=[Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom))
for [Arundel and South Downs](/source/Arundel_and_South_Downs)|years=[1997](/source/1997_United_Kingdom_general_election)–[2005](/source/2005_United_Kingdom_general_election)}} {{s-aft|after=[Nick Herbert](/source/Nick_Herbert)}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[John Bercow](/source/John_Bercow)}} {{s-ttl|title=[Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury](/source/Shadow_Chief_Secretary_to_the_Treasury)|years=2002–2004}} {{s-aft|after=[George Osborne](/source/George_Osborne)}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=}} {{s-ttl|title=[Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party](/source/Deputy_Chairman_of_the_Conservative_Party)|years=2004–2005}} {{s-aft|after=}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Flight, Howard}} Category:1948 births Category:2026 deaths Category:Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge Category:Conservative Party (UK) life peers Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Category:Place of birth missing Category:UK MPs 1997–2001 Category:UK MPs 2001–2005 Category:Ross School of Business alumni Category:British Eurosceptics Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Howard Flight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Flight) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Flight?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.