Friday 20th of November Norman Baker ‘Against The Grain’

Talk Blurb:

Norman’s talk will run through the formation of the coalition, and the experiences of being a minister, both in terms of serious policy and the absurd. It will show how the coalition functioned on a day-to-day basis, reflect on the successes and failures of the Lib Dems, then look at the political landscape today following the General Election.

Norman’s Bio:

2010-­2014 Minister in the Coalition Government

From May 2010 to September 2013 minister at the Department for Transport. Covering public transport, including rail and bus, 98% of the road network, and electric vehicles.
Established and provided for a variety of interventions at local level designed to create growth and cut carbon.

By autumn 2013, became the third longest ever serving minister at the department.

In 2013 promoted to Minister of State at the Home Office, responsible for Crime Prevention. His portfolio included tackling child sexual exploitation, violence against women, drugs and alcohol, animal experiments, and firearms.

1997-­2015

Served as MP for Lewes, and shadowed a number of different areas for my party, including broadcasting, consumer affairs, environment and transport.

Awards received

2001: Inquisitor of the Year (Spectator) 2002: Opposition Politician of the Year (Channel 4) 2013: Outstanding Contribution to National Transport (National Transport Awards)2014: Lib Dem Minister of the Year (Political and Public Life Awards)In 2014 I was inducted into the Privy Council.

Outside Interests:
Lead singer in a band, The Reform Club, and have to date released one album and one EP. There is another album ready for release early in 2016. Present two weekly music shows on his local FM station, Seahaven FM.Published author, with a second book out this autumn. President of the Tibet Society, and President of the Tom Paine Society.