The Right Honourable The Lord Patten PC |
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Secretary of State for Education | |
In office 10 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 |
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Prime Minister | John Major |
Preceded by | Kenneth Clarke (Education and Science) |
Succeeded by | Gillian Shephard |
Minister of State for Home Affairs | |
In office 13 June 1987 – 10 April 1992 |
|
Prime Minister |
Margaret Thatcher John Major |
Preceded by | David Mellor |
Succeeded by | Peter Lloyd |
Minister of State for Housing | |
In office 2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987 |
|
Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
Preceded by | Ian Gow |
Succeeded by | The Hon. William Waldegrave |
Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon Oxford (1979–1983) |
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In office 3 May 1979 – 1 May 1997 |
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Preceded by | Evan Luard |
Succeeded by | Evan Harris |
Personal details | |
Born | 17 July 1945 |
Political party | Conservative |
Alma mater | Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
John Haggitt Charles Patten, Baron Patten, PC (born 17 July 1945) is a former Conservative Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon.
A Roman Catholic, he was educated by the Jesuits at Wimbledon College before graduating from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
He was first elected for Oxford in 1979, transferring to Oxford West and Abingdon in 1983 after boundary changes divided the seat. He stood down at the 1997 general election. The seat was subsequently won by the Liberal Democrat Evan Harris.
Patten was offered the role as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by Margaret Thatcher but refused.
Patten served as Secretary of State for Education from 1992 to 1994. He was interviewed at some length by Brian Sherratt in 1994 regarding his role as Secretary of State. While he was Education Secretary, Patten described Birmingham education chief Tim Brighouse as "a madman ... wandering the streets, frightening the children." Brighouse sued, and won substantial damages which were donated to educational charities.
Patten was created a life peer as Baron Patten of Wincanton in the County of Somerset on 17 June 1997.