Lord Roger Liddle

Lord Roger Liddle is Chairman of Cumbria Vision. (To see Roger's introduction statement on becoming Chairman click here)

He has an extensive CV ranging from being special adviser to Tony Blair on Europe and an adviser to the President of the European Commission, to a founding member of the Social Democratic Party.

The son of a railwayman and with family in West Cumbria, Roger was born in Carlisle and attended Carlisle Grammar School. He undertook the Wyndham Scholarship at Queen College, Oxford, where he also received degrees in Modern History and Management Studies.

After studying Roger worked in research for the Oxford School of Social and Administrative Studies and as an industrial relations Officer for The Electricity Council. In 1976 he moved into politics by becoming Special Adviser to the Rt Hon William Rodgers, Secretary of State for Transport.

From there he became Director of the Public Policy Centre, undertaking pioneering work on the regulation of privatised industries, exchange rate policy, regional policy, science and industrial policy, employee participation and wage determination, and choice in public services.

Roger then moved into the private sector for 10 years, taking the position of Managing Director of Prima Europe Ltd – a consultancy company advising on the impact of politics and regulation at European and national level.

In 1997 he moved back into politics to become Special Adviser on European matters to Prime Minister Tony Blair. During a seven year spell in this role he developed a new UK policy of positive engagement in the EU, focusing on economic reform, innovation and enterprise promotion; modernisation of Welfare States and labour market reform; as well as institutional issues, the Constitutional Treaty, and European Defence. He was also responsible for liaison with business and trade unions on European issues.

After a spell at Number 10 he became a Member of the Cabinet of the European Union Trade Commissioner, where he advised on EU policy and their impact on the UK. In 2006 he moved on to become Principal Adviser to the President of the European Commission, leading a team of economists and experts in the Bureau of European Policy Advisers advising on the economic and social challenges facing Europe.

Roger continues to be a Board Member for the Policy Network – an international think tank bringing together academics, policy makers and politicians across the progressive centre left; responsible for major projects on the Future of the European Social Model, Public Service Reform, Immigration and Integration, Flexicurity, and Globalisation and Social Justice. He is also a Visiting Fellow of the European Institute at the London School of Economics.

Roger has also played a more direct role in politics, as a councillor on Oxford City Council and Lambeth Borough Council. He was a founding member of the Social Democratic Party in 1981 and a member of the party’s National Committee until 1986, during which time he contested a number of parliamentary seats.

Roger also has four books under his belt, all focusing firmly on European issues. Together with Peter Mandleson he wrote The Blair Revolution: Can New Labour Deliver? In 1996.