# Tom Brake > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tom_Brake > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tom_Brake.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Brake > Source revision: 1347298890 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) British Liberal Democrat politician The Right Honourable Tom Brake Official portrait, 2017 Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury In office 4 November 2014 – 8 May 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron Preceded by Mark Hunter Succeeded by Julian Smith Deputy Leader of the House of Commons In office 4 September 2012 – 8 May 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron Preceded by David Heath Succeeded by Thérèse Coffey Lib Dem Spokesperson Liberal Democrat Spokesman for the Duchy of Lancaster In office 21 August 2019 – 13 December 2019 Leader Jo Swinson Davey · Brinton Preceded by Office established Succeeded by Office abolished Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Exiting the European Union In office 16 June 2017 – 13 December 2019 Leader Tim Farron Vince Cable Jo Swinson Davey · Brinton Preceded by Nick Clegg Succeeded by Alistair Carmichael Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for International Trade In office 16 June 2017 – 21 August 2019 Leader Tim Farron Vince Cable Jo Swinson Preceded by Nick Clegg Succeeded by Chuka Umunna Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Office of First Secretary of State In office 16 June 2017 – 20 December 2017 Leader Tim Farron Vince Cable Preceded by Alistair Carmichael Succeeded by Sir Ed Davey (2019) (de facto) Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs In office 29 July 2015 – 16 June 2017 Leader Tim Farron Preceded by Tim Farron Succeeded by Jo Swinson Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats In office 29 July 2015 – 16 June 2017 Leader Tim Farron Preceded by Don Foster Succeeded by Alistair Carmichael Liberal Democrat Leader of the House of Commons In office 7 January 2015 – 16 June 2017 Leader Nick Clegg Tim Farron Preceded by David Heath (2010) Succeeded by Wera Hobhouse (2020) Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport In office 16 May 2005 – 8 March 2006 Leader Charles Kennedy Menzies Campbell Preceded by John Thurso Succeeded by Susan Kramer Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for International Development In office 12 October 2003 – 16 May 2005 Leader Charles Kennedy Preceded by Jenny Tonge Succeeded by Andrew George Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington In office 1 May 1997 – 6 November 2019 Preceded by Nigel Forman Succeeded by Elliot Colburn Personal details Born Thomas Anthony Brake (1962-05-06) 6 May 1962 (age 64) Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England Party Liberal Democrats Spouse Candida Goulden ​ (m. 1998)​ Children 2 Education Imperial College London Website Official website Commons website **Thomas Anthony Brake** (born 6 May 1962) is a British [Liberal Democrat](/source/Liberal_Democrats_(UK)) politician. He was the [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)) (MP) for [Carshalton and Wallington](/source/Carshalton_and_Wallington) in [London](/source/London) from 1997 to 2019. He was appointed Director of the cross party pressure group [Unlock Democracy](/source/Unlock_Democracy) in October 2020.[1] ## Early life Brake was born in [Melton Mowbray](/source/Melton_Mowbray) and moved to France when he was eight. He was educated at the [Lycée International](/source/Lyc%C3%A9e_International_de_Saint_Germain-en-Laye) school in [Saint-Germain-en-Laye](/source/Saint-Germain-en-Laye) in the western suburbs of [Paris](/source/Paris), and [Imperial College London](/source/Imperial_College_London), where he obtained a [BSc](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) in [Physics](/source/Physics) in 1983. He was a computer software consultant with Hoskyns ([Capgemini](/source/Capgemini)) from 1983 until his election to the UK Parliament in 1997. ## Political career ### Early career Brake was actively involved in human rights issues as a student. He was elected as a councillor in the [London Borough of Hackney](/source/London_Borough_of_Hackney) in 1988, leaving the council in 1990. In 1994 Brake was elected as a councillor in the [London Borough of Sutton](/source/London_Borough_of_Sutton) and sat on the council until 1998. Brake stood for election to [Parliament](/source/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom) at the [1992 general election](/source/1992_United_Kingdom_general_election) in Carshalton and Wallington, but was defeated by [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) [Nigel Forman](/source/Nigel_Forman). ### Parliamentary career In what proved to be a close contest, Brake was elected at the [1997 general election](/source/1997_United_Kingdom_general_election) as the Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington, beating Nigel Forman with a majority of 2,267, and remained MP there until he lost the seat at the [2019 general election](/source/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election). He made his [maiden speech](/source/Maiden_speech) on 10 June 1997. Brake defeated Conservative Ken Andrew in 2001, 2005 and again in 2010 with an increased majority. In 2015 his majority was reduced to 1,510, narrowly ahead of Conservative [Matthew Maxwell-Scott](/source/Constable_Maxwell-Scott_baronets#Haggerston,_later_Constable_Maxwell-Scott_baronets,_of_Haggerston_(1642)). Following the 1997 election, party leader [Paddy Ashdown](/source/Paddy_Ashdown) placed Brake on the frontbench as a spokesman on [the Environment, Transport and the Regions](/source/Department_for_the_Environment%2C_Transport_and_the_Regions). Following the [2001 General Election](/source/2001_United_Kingdom_general_election), then party leader [Charles Kennedy](/source/Charles_Kennedy) appointed him a spokesman on Transport, Local Government and the Regions. In 2002 he became a [Transport](/source/Department_for_Transport) spokesman. He joined the Liberal Democrat frontbench team in 2003 as the lead [International Development](/source/Department_for_International_Development) spokesman. After the [2005 General Election](/source/2005_United_Kingdom_general_election) he became the Transport spokesman. He was relieved of this position under the new leadership of Sir Menzies Campbell in March 2006, and later that year became spokesperson for local government. In 2007 Brake became spokesperson for London and the Olympics. In 2008 he was also appointed as a Home Affairs spokesperson. In June 2010 Brake was named Co-Chair of the new Liberal Democrat Backbench Committee on Home Affairs, Justice and Equalities. Brake Co-Chaired the committee alongside Baroness Hamwee and Lord Thomas of Gresford OBE QC.[2] In September 2010 Brake attempted to introduce a bill "to amend the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to remove provisions permitting Ministers to overrule decisions of the Information Commissioner and Information Tribunal; to limit the time allowed for public authorities to respond to requests involving consideration of the public interest; to amend the definition of public authorities; and for connected purposes."[3] On 11 June 2011, it was announced Brake would be appointed a [Privy Counsellor](/source/Privy_Council_(United_Kingdom)) in the Queen's [2011 Birthday Honours list](/source/2011_Birthday_Honours).[4] On 4 September 2012 he was appointed Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, replacing Liberal Democrat David Heath MP who was promoted to Minister of State in DEFRA. Before he was appointed Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, Brake was the Secretary of the [All-Party Group for World Government](/source/All-Party_Group_for_World_Government), Treasurer of the All-Party Human Rights group, a member of the Franco British Parliamentary Relations group.[5] Between 2014 and 2015, Brake was an Assistant Whip for [HM's Treasury](/source/HM_Treasury). In January 2015, Brake was appointed to the Liberal Democrat General Election Cabinet as the party's Leader of the House of Commons and London spokesperson. On 29 July 2015, Brake was named as foreign affairs spokesperson and party chief whip.[6] In June 2017, Brake was appointed as a Liberal Democrat spokesperson for international trade and European affairs.[7] In an interview with British-American centrist [Owen Prell](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Owen_Prell&action=edit&redlink=1), who was visiting on behalf of [Unite America](/source/Unite_America), in Brake's Westminster office in June 2017, Brake greatly attributed the inability of his party to perform better in House of Commons elections to [first-past-the-post](/source/First-past-the-post).[8] Brake lost his seat in the [2019 general election](/source/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election) to [Elliot Colburn](/source/Elliot_Colburn) of the [Conservative Party](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)).[9] ### Subsequent career In October 2020, Brake was appointed as the new director of Unlock Democracy,[10] an organisation which campaigns for a more [participatory democracy](/source/Participatory_democracy) in Britain, founded upon a written [constitution](/source/Constitution).[11] He has said that new rules should be introduced to require MPs to publish employment agreements linked to their political activities, and meanwhile should make the information available on a voluntary basis.[12] He is an honorary associate of the [National Secular Society](/source/National_Secular_Society).[13] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-unlock_democracy_1-0)** ["Tom Brake appointed Director of Unlock Democracy"](https://unlockdemocracy.org.uk/blog-1/tom-brake-appointed-unlock-democracy-director). Retrieved 6 October 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-biog_2-0)** ["Biography"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101022151101/http://www.tombrake.co.uk/pages/biography.html). *TomBrake.co.uk*. Archived from the original on 22 October 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["House of Commons Hansard Debates for 07 Sep 2010 (pt 0002)"](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100907/debtext/100907-0002.htm#10090737000001). *parliament.uk*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161025212013/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100907/debtext/100907-0002.htm#10090737000001) from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["No. 59808"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59808/supplement/1). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 11 June 2011. p. 1. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [All Party Parliamentary Group for World Governance](http://www.oneworldtrust.org/?display=pgwg) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070206094900/http://www.oneworldtrust.org/?display=pgwg) 6 February 2007 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) – *One World Trust Website* 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Tim Farron unveils his Lib Dem front bench team"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181122190931/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33700930). *BBC News*. 29 July 2015. Archived from [the original](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33700930) on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Liberal Democrats announce Shadow Cabinet"](http://www.libdems.org.uk/liberal-democrats-shadow-cabinet). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170617211057/http://www.libdems.org.uk/liberal-democrats-shadow-cabinet) from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Prell, Owen (7 July 2020). ["An American Centrist Looks Across the Pond"](https://medium.com/@bayscribe/an-american-centrist-looks-across-the-pond-4eecc51da685). Medium. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["London's longest serving Lib Dem MP is ousted in just a handful of political changes in the capital"](https://www.itv.com/news/london/2019-12-13/london-s-longest-serving-lib-dem-mp-is-ousted-in-just-a-handful-of-political-changes-in-the-capital/). *ITV News*. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Tom Brake, Former MP, Appointed As Director Of Unlock Democracy"](https://unlockdemocracy.org.uk/blog-1/tom-brake-appointed-unlock-democracy-director). *openDemocracy*. Retrieved 6 October 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["What We Want"](https://unlockdemocracy.org.uk/new-constitution). *Unlock Democracy*. Retrieved 16 September 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Jon Ungoed-Thomas (14 November 2021). ["MPs keep second job details secret"](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/14/mps-keep-second-job-details-secret-for-years). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. Retrieved 15 November 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["National Secular Society Honorary Associates"](https://secularism.org.uk/honorary-associates.html). *National Secular Society*. Retrieved 26 August 2019. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Tom Brake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tom_Brake). Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Tom Brake](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Tom_Brake)***. - [Tom Brake MP](https://web.archive.org/web/20150719075733/http://www.tombrake.co.uk/) official site - [Profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20090103110943/http://www.libdems.org.uk/people/tom-brake) at the Liberal Democrats - [Profile](https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/tom-brake/151) at [Parliament of the United Kingdom](/source/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom) - [Contributions in Parliament](https://hansard.parliament.uk/search/MemberContributions?memberId=151) at *[Hansard](/source/Hansard)* - [Contributions in Parliament](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-tom-brake) at *[Hansard 1803–2005](/source/Hansard)* - [Voting record](https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Tom_Brake) at [Public Whip](/source/Public_Whip) - [Record in Parliament](https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/tom_brake) at [TheyWorkForYou](/source/TheyWorkForYou) - [Profile](https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/Q264720) on OpenSanctions, an open database of sanctions and persons of interest - [Contributor page](https://www.theguardian.com/profile/tom-brake?INTCMP=SRCH) at *The Guardian* - [Appearances](https://www.c-span.org/person/?1000673) on [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN) Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by Nigel Forman Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington 1997–2019 Succeeded by Elliot Colburn Party political offices Preceded by Don Foster Liberal Democrat Chief Whip of the House of Commons 2015–2017 Succeeded by Alistair Carmichael Authority control databases: People UK Parliament --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tom Brake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Brake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Brake?action=history)). 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