Rupert Mitford, 6th Baron Redesdale

Who is Rupert Mitford, 6th Baron Redesdale?

Rupert Mitford, 6th Baron Redesdale is a British Liberal Democrat politician.

Mitford was educated at Milton Abbey and Highgate Schools, before going up to Newcastle University, where he graduated with the degree of B.A..

He succeeded his father as 6th Baron Redesdale, of Redesdale, Co. Northumberland, in 1991.

Following the removal of hereditary peers' automatic right to a seat in Parliament by the House of Lords Act 1999, the LibDems took advantage of a concession from the New Labour Government for those such as Redesdale to be created Life Peers.

Additional to his hereditary title, Lord Redesdale was created, on 18 April 2000, a Life Peer as Baron Mitford, of Redesdale, Co. Northumberland, so as to sit as a working peer in the House of Lords. By convention, the House of Lords continues to refer to newly elevated peers by any senior or older relevant title. Thus Mitford remains correctly styled as Lord Redesdale.

Redesdale has spoken on various issues as required by the LibDem Parliamentary Party, such as the environment, international development, science and technology. Lord Redesdale is Patron of various societies, including one encouraged by his parliamentary colleagues, namely the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership, which advocates strict control of the grey squirrel population so as to enhance the chance of red squirrels' survival. Redesdale is currently the CEO of the Carbon Management Association and the Energy Managers Association. Since 2012, Lord Redesdale has been founding Chairman of the Carbon Management Association and of the Energy Managers Association.