Harold Lever, Baron Lever of Manchester

Who was Harold Lever, Baron Lever of Manchester?

Harold Lever, Baron Lever of Manchester, PC was a barrister and Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.

Born in Manchester, he was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Manchester University. He was called to the Bar of the Middle Temple in 1935. During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force.

Lever was elected Member of Parliament for Manchester Exchange at the 1945 general election, then Manchester, Cheetham from 1950–74. His brother, Leslie Lever, was elected MP for the neighbouring Manchester Ardwick seat. He promoted the Private Member's Bill that became the Defamation Act 1952.

He was Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs in 1967; Financial Secretary to the Treasury, September 1967–69; Paymaster General, 1969–70, a Member of the Shadow Cabinet from 1970–74 and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, 1970–73. His seat changed again, becoming Manchester Central from 1974–79. On Labour's return to power after the February 1974 general election, he was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1974–79.

Lever held a number of business appointments in the banking and journalism sectors. He was Governor of the London School of Economics from 1971, and of the English Speaking Union 1973–86. He was a Trustee of the Royal Opera House from 1974–82, and a Member of the Court of Manchester University from 1975–87. He was an Honorary Fellow, and Chairman of the Trustees of the Royal Academy from 1981–87. He held Honorary doctorates in Law, Science, Literature and Technology and was awarded the Grand Cross, Order of Merit, Germany, 1979.