Alex Carlile, Baron Carlile of Berriew

{{Short description|British barrister and politician (born 1948)}} {{Redirect|Lord Carlile|Lord Carlisle|Lord Carlisle (disambiguation){{!}}Lord Carlisle}} {{Use British English|date=April 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[The Right Honourable]] | name = The Lord Carlile of Berriew | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE|KC|LLDFRSA|size=100%}} | image = official portrait of Lord Carlile of Berriew crop 2.jpg | alt = | caption = | order = | office1 = [[Member of the House of Lords]] | status1 = [[Lord Temporal]] | term_label1 = [[Life peer]]age | term_start1 = 27 July 1999 | order2 = | office2 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Montgomeryshire]] | term_start2 = 9 June 1983 | term_end2 = 8 April 1997 | predecessor2 = [[Delwyn Williams]] | successor2 = [[Lembit Öpik]]  | birth_name = Alexander Charles Carlile | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|02|12|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Ruabon]], [[Wrexham County Borough|Wrexham]], Wales | death_date =  | death_place = | citizenship = United Kingdom | party = [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (Before 2017) [[Crossbencher|Crossbench]] (2017–present) | height =  | spouse = {{marriage|[[Alison Levitt]]|December 2007}} | partner =  | relations = | children = 3 children, 2 stepchildren | parents = | relatives = | education = | alma_mater = [[King's College London]] | occupation = | profession = [[Barrister]] and Consultant | known_for = | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | awards = }} '''Alexander Charles Carlile, Baron Carlile of Berriew''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CBE|KC|FRSA}} (born 12 February 1948) is a British [[barrister]] and [[crossbench]] member of the [[House of Lords]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-carlile-of-berriew/1138|title=Lord Carlile of Berriew|website=UK Parliament|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref> He was the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Montgomeryshire]] from 1983 to 1997 under the banner of the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] and then [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]].<ref name=ww1>{{Who's Who |title=Carlile of Berriew |year=2024 |id=U10171 |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U10171}}</ref>

==Early life and career at the bar== Alex Carlile, the son of [[Polish Jew]]ish immigrants,<ref>Mosley, Charlestown and, editor. ''Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition'', 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003.</ref> was born in [[Ruabon]], [[Wrexham]], [[Wales]] and brought up in [[Lancashire]]. He was educated at [[Epsom College]] and at [[King's College London]] where he graduated in law in 1969. He was called to [[Bar (law)|the Bar]] by [[Gray's Inn]] in 1970 and became a [[Queen's Counsel]] (QC) at the early age of 36.<ref name="welshpost">{{cite web |url= http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/dailypost/news/wales/tm_headline=welsh-peer-leaves-wife-for-high-flyer&method=full&objectid=18544526&siteid=50142-name_page.html|title= Welsh peer leaves wife for high-flyer|author= Butler, Carl|date= 29 January 2007|publisher= Wales Daily Post}}</ref>

Lord Carlile of Berriew is a company director and [[barrister]], and former Head of Chambers of Foundry Chambers, London, a set of barristers' chambers. He defended [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]'s butler, [[Paul Burrell]], against charges that Burrell had stolen some of her estate's belongings.<ref name="welshpost"/> Carlile stood down as head of chambers at 9–12 Bell Yard in 2007.<ref name=cat1/>

==Career in public life== ===As MP=== Carlile stood unsuccessfully as a [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] for [[East Flintshire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Flintshire]] at the general elections of [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|February]] and [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|October 1974]]. At the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 election]], standing as a [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]], he became the Member of Parliament for [[Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Montgomeryshire]] and held the seat until [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]; he also became the leader of his party in Wales.<ref name=Parting/>

Carlile was the first Member of Parliament to campaign for the rights of [[transgender]] people.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

===As peer=== On 27 July 1999, he was created a [[life peer]] as '''Baron Carlile of Berriew''', ''of [[Berriew]] in the [[Powys|County of Powys]]''.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55569 |date=2 August 1999 |page=8301}}</ref>

Carlile sat as a Liberal Democrat peer until 2016, when he left the party, stating that he found himself "at odds" with its policies on many matters, including national security issues. It was reported that [[civil liberties]], especially the [[Investigatory Powers Act 2016]], were at the core of the disagreement.<ref name=Parting>{{Cite news|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/former-welsh-lib-dem-leader-12453300|title=Former Welsh Lib Dem leader parts company with party|last=Williamson|first=David|date=13 January 2017|newspaper=walesonline|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref>

In 2001 he was appointed the independent reviewer of [[terrorism legislation]].<ref name="terrorismreport">{{cite web|url=http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/terrorism-act-2000/tact-2005-review?view=Binary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903233219/http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/terrorism-act-2000/tact-2005-review?view=Binary |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-09-03 |title=Report on the operation in 2005 of the Terrorism Act 2000 |author=Lord Carlile of Berriew QC |year=2005 |publisher=Home Office }}</ref> He continued the role until 2011.<ref name=puk1/> Lord Carlile acted from 2001 to 2011 as the UK's [[Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation]]. He was succeeded by [[David Anderson, Baron Anderson of Ipswich|David Anderson]] QC. The Director of [[Liberty (advocacy group)|Liberty]], [[Shami Chakrabarti]], called Carlile's support for [[control order]]s "disappointing" in a February 2006 press release condemning the introduction of control orders by the [[Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/news-and-events/1-press-releases/2006/carlile-calls-for-renew-of-pta.shtml |title=Independent Reviewer calls to renew Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 |publisher=[[Liberty (advocacy group)|Liberty]] press release |date=2 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007085643/http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/news-and-events/1-press-releases/2006/carlile-calls-for-renew-of-pta.shtml |archive-date=7 October 2008 }}</ref>

From 2001 to 2016 Carlile sat as a deputy judge in the [[High Court of Justice]].<ref name=puk1/>

Carlile was appointed [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to national security law.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=60009|date=31 December 2011|page=7|supp=y}}</ref>

In 2014 Carlile mounted a legal challenge to the UK travel ban on [[Maryam Rajavi]], leader of the [[People's Mujahedin of Iran]] (MeK) and president-elect of the [[National Council of Resistance of Iran]].<ref name=standard-20120222>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/may-is-appeasing-iran-by-blocking-dissidents-visit-7445975.html |title=May 'is appeasing Iran' by blocking dissident's visit |newspaper=Evening Standard |location=London |date=22 February 2012 |access-date=8 October 2020}}</ref> The [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom|Supreme Court]] decided in favour of the UK government.<ref name="rajavicar">{{cite web|url=https://www.supremecourt.uk/decided-cases/docs/UKSC_2013_0098_Judgment.pdf|title=(2014) UKSC 60 On appeal from: (2013) EWCA Civ 199|access-date=7 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103001814/https://www.supremecourt.uk/decided-cases/docs/UKSC_2013_0098_Judgment.pdf|archive-date=3 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2015, he joined with a cross-party group of peers to reintroduce the [[Draft Communications Data Bill]], known by its opponents as the "Snoopers' Charter".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/22/snoopers-charter-changed-version-pass-before-election |title='Snooper's charter': four Lords in bid to pass changed version before election |author=Patrick Wintour |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=19 October 2015 |author-link=Patrick Wintour }}</ref>

Carlile was an independent reviewer on the 2015 [[Assessment on Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland]].<ref name=ni1>{{cite web | title=Members of assessment panel on paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland announced | website=Newstalk | date=22 September 2015 | url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/stormont-panel-paramilitary-activity-assessment-theresa-villiers-alex-carlile-rosalie-flanagan-stephen-shaw-637970 | access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref>

He was vocal in his opposition to the UK coalition government's [[Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012|Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill]], proposing many amendments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/legalaidsentencingandpunishmentofoffenders.html |title=Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 |publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |date=1 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627161615/http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/legalaidsentencingandpunishmentofoffenders.html |archive-date=Jun 27, 2020 }}</ref> He was one of five Lords who vehemently opposed the introduction of means testing for police advice (to cover the cost of lawyers consulting suspects in police stations). "A single moment of reflection leaves one open-mouthed at the absurdity of this proposal", he said.<ref>{{cite news |author=Carlile, Lord |title=Proposed reforms to legal aid would put Britain back three decades, argues peer |url=http://www.exaronews.com/articles/4184/commentary-reducing-access-to-lawyers-is-wrong |work=[[Exaro News]] |date=7 December 2011 |access-date=30 January 2012 |df=dmy-all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123054349/http://www.exaronews.com/articles/4184/commentary-reducing-access-to-lawyers-is-wrong |archive-date=23 January 2013 }}</ref>

In 2016 Carlile sat on the founding committee of National Opposition to Windfarms, and sponsored the launch event at the Houses of Parliament.<ref name=guardian-20120419>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/apr/19/national-body-opposing-wind-parliament |title=National body opposing wind power to launch in Westminster |last=Hickman |first=Leo |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 April 2012 |access-date=8 October 2020}}</ref>

In 2019 Carlile was initially appointed to lead the [[Independent reviews in the United Kingdom|independent review]] of the UK government's [[Prevent strategy|Prevent]] programme but resigned after a legal challenge was mounted by [[Rights Watch UK]] against his appointment; the petitioner felt strongly that his statements in favour of the strategy would unduly bias his report. The strategy had "become a toxic brand for many within Muslim communities, with some viewing it as a state tool for spying on them."<ref name=g5>{{cite web | last=Bowcott | first=Owen | title=Lord Carlile removed from Prevent review after legal challenge | website=the Guardian | date=20 December 2019 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/19/lord-carlile-prevent-review-legal-challenge | access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref>

In 2020 Carlile was listed as a bencher on the [[Competition Appeal Tribunal]],<ref name=cat1>{{cite web | title=Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC | website=Competition Appeal Tribunal | url=https://www.catribunal.org.uk/about/personnel/lord-carlile-berriew-cbe-qc | access-date=2 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925165235/https://www.catribunal.org.uk/about/personnel/lord-carlile-berriew-cbe-qc |archive-date=25 September 2020 }}</ref> where he sat between 2005 and 2013 as part-time Chair.<ref name=puk1/>

===Awards and co-curriculars=== Carlile is an Honorary Professor in the Universities of St Andrews and Swansea, and a Fellow of King's College London. He is an Honorary Doctor of Laws in the Universities of Swansea, South Wales, Chester, Manchester Metropolitan, and the Hungarian Institute of Criminology.<ref>{{cite web | title=Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE, QC | website=Woolf Institute (en-GB) | url=https://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/people/lord-carlile-of-berriew-cbe-qc | access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref>

Carlile is a co-director and co-owner of a strategy and political risks consultancy, SC Strategy Limited with Sir [[John Scarlett]], the former chief of MI6 and [[William Jessett]] CBE (former Director of Strategy at UK Ministry of Defence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08248586|title=SC STRATEGY LIMITED – Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref>

According to the Register of Lords' Interests, Lord Carlile of Berriew was at various times a director of 5 Bell Yard Ltd and the [[Wynnstay]] Group of agricultural feed manufacturers, agricultural goods merchants and fuel oil distributors. He was president of the [[Howard League for Penal Reform]] in 2006–9.<ref name=puk1>{{cite web | title=Register of Interests for Lord Carlile of Berriew | website=UK Parliament | date=31 July 2024 | url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1138/registeredinterests | access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref>

==Penal reform==

From 2006 to 2013, Carlile was President of the [[Howard League for Penal Reform]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Trading places |url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/trading-places-f9kkxb899jl |access-date=19 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC |url=https://www.catribunal.org.uk/about/personnel/lord-carlile-berriew-cbe-qc |website=www.catribunal.org.uk |publisher=Competition Appeal Tribunal |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>

In 2006 he was chairman of the Carlile Inquiry into the use of force on children in custody. In 2011, Lord Carlile held a follow-up hearing in the House of Lords. He put together an expert panel who gave both written and oral evidence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.howardleague.org/carlile-inquiry/ |title=Public hearing on the use of force on children in custody: The Howard League for Penal Reform |access-date=25 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812052514/http://www.howardleague.org/carlile-inquiry/ |archive-date=12 August 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Personal life== He lists his recreations as politics, theatre, food and [[Association football|football]], and is a member of the [[Athenaeum Club, London|Athenaeum Club]]. He is a lifelong supporter of English football club [[Burnley FC]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8465504.stm|work=BBC News|title=Examining football club finances|date=18 January 2010|access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> He is a [[Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce|Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts]], Patron of [[The Security Institute]], and Patron (previously Chairman) of the [[Chartered Security Professionals Registration Authority]].<ref name="syi110513">{{cite news|title=News in Brief: Special Edition |url=http://www.security-institute.org/pdf/special_enews_april_2011.pdf |publisher=[[The Security Institute]] |date=13 May 2011 |access-date=27 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316152443/http://www.security-institute.org/pdf/special_enews_april_2011.pdf |archive-date=16 March 2012 }}</ref>

He has three children by his first wife Frances and nine grandchildren. He married his second wife, [[Alison Levitt, Baroness Levitt|Alison Levitt]] [[King's Counsel|KC]], in December 2007. She was herself a barrister, until her appointment as a Circuit Judge. She was created a life peer as Baroness Levitt in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/5381/career|title=Baroness Levitt|publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]]|access-date=23 January 2025}}</ref>

Carlile is a [[Bencher]] of [[Gray's Inn]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.graysinn.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=1&id=4&Itemid=668|title=Management Committee of Gray's Inn|date=28 June 2011|access-date=28 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110721204303/http://www.graysinn.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=1&id=4&Itemid=668| archive-date= 21 July 2011 | url-status= usurped}}</ref>

On 11 July 2018, Carlile (after being granted a visa) was refused entry to [[India]] at [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]] where he was due to address a press conference in defence of jailed Bangladeshi politician [[Khaleda Zia]] and meet a human rights body. India's foreign ministry said his "intended activity in India was incompatible with the purpose of his visit as mentioned in his visa application", though media reported the decision to refuse him entry was a political one to protect [[Bangladesh–India relations|India–Bangladesh relations]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-bangladesh-lawyer-idUSKBN1K22EK|title=British lawyer for jailed Bangladeshi ex-PM 'outraged' by India...|date=12 July 2018|via=www.reuters.com|newspaper=Reuters}}</ref>

==See also== * [[Timeline of children's rights in the United Kingdom]]

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{Hansard-contribs|mr-alex-carlile|Alex Carlile}} *[http://www.howardleague.org Howard League for Penal Reform] *Lord Carlile [https://web.archive.org/web/20100624234959/http://www.re-constitution.org.uk/talking-heads/speaker/13_Carlile-Lord-Alex/ speaking] about the effectiveness of the House of Commons and about the Rule of Law at a seminar organised by The Constitution Society *[http://www.libdems.org.uk/people/lord-carlile-of-berriew-qc Lord Carlile of Berriew QC] profile at the site of Liberal Democrats *[http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-carlile-of-berriew/1138 Biography at the House of Lords] Biography at the House of Lords *[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/minutes/991013/ldminute.htm Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords] House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 12 October 1999

{{S-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{Succession box | title = Member of Parliament for [[Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Montgomeryshire]] | years = [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]–[[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]] | before = [[Delwyn Williams]] | after = [[Lembit Öpik]] }} {{s-ppo}} {{Succession box| title = Chairman of the [[Welsh Liberal Party]] | years = 1980–1982 | before = ? | after = [[Winston Roddick]]}} {{Succession box| title = Leader of the [[Welsh Liberal Democrats]] | years = 1992–1997 | before = [[Richard Livsey]] | after = [[Richard Livsey]]}} {{succession box | title = President of the [[Welsh Liberal Democrats]] | years = 1997–1999 | before = [[Martin Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gresford|Martin Thomas]] | after = ?}} {{s-prec|uk}} {{s-bef|before=[[Baron Grabiner|The Lord Grabiner]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|Gentlemen]]''' ''Baron Carlile of Berriew'' '''}} {{s-fol|after=[[The Lord Oxburgh]]}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carlile of Berriew, Alex Carlile, Baron}} [[Category:1948 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Ruabon]] [[Category:People educated at Epsom College]] [[Category:Alumni of King's College London]] [[Category:Associates of King's College London]] [[Category:Fellows of King's College London]] [[Category:English Jews]] [[Category:English people of Polish-Jewish descent]] [[Category:English barristers]] [[Category:English King's Counsel]] [[Category:Leaders of the Welsh Liberal Democrats]] [[Category:Welsh Jews]] [[Category:Welsh barristers]] [[Category:Jewish British politicians]] [[Category:Liberal Party (UK) MPs for Welsh constituencies]] [[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) MPs for Welsh constituencies]] [[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) life peers]] [[Category:Members of Gray's Inn]] [[Category:UK MPs 1983–1987]] [[Category:UK MPs 1987–1992]] [[Category:UK MPs 1992–1997]] [[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]] [[Category:Spouses of life peers]]