John Patten, Baron Patten

Who is John Patten, Baron Patten?

John Haggitt Charles Patten, Baron Patten, PC 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.