Nicholas Edward True, Baron True (born 31 July 1951) is a British

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

politician serving as

Leader of the House of Lords The leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The post is also the leader of the majority party in the House of Lords who acts as ...

and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal since September 2022.

Early life and education

True was born on 31 July 1951 to Edward Thomas True and Kathleen Louise True (''née'' Mather). He was educated at Nottingham High School and

Peterhouse, Cambridge Peterhouse is the oldest constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England, founded in 1284 by Hugh de Balsham, Bishop of Ely. Today, Peterhouse has 254 undergraduates, 116 full-time graduate students and 54 fellows. It is quite ...

, from which he graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...

(BA) degree in 1973; as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. ...

(MA Cantab) in 1978.

Politics

True worked in the Conservative Research Department from 1975 to 1982, also serving as assistant to the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party from 1978 to 1982. He was special adviser to Norman Fowler, Secretary of State for Health and Social Security from 1982 to 1986. He then moved to be Director of the Public Policy Unit from 1986 to 1990. He was Deputy Head of the Prime Minister's Policy Unit from 1991 to 1995, before becoming special adviser within the

Prime Minister's Office Prime Minister's Office may refer to: * Prime Minister's Office (Albania) * Prime Minister's Office (Australia) * Prime Minister's Office (Bangladesh) * Prime Minister's Office (Brunei) * Office of the Prime Minister (Cambodia) * Office of the ...

in 1997, until the

general election A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...

of that year. In his memoirs the former Prime Minister

John Major Sir John Major (born 29 March 1943) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997, and as Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon, formerly Hunting ...

says that True was his favourite speechwriter. He was appointed a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) in the 1993 New Year Honours. True served as private secretary to the

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...

in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster ...

and Director of the Opposition Whips' Office there from 1997 to 2010. On 23 December 2010 he was created a

life peer In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. In modern times, life peerages, always created at the rank of baron, are created under the Life Peerages ...

as Baron True, of

East Sheen East Sheen, also known as Sheen, is a suburb in south-west London in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its long high street has shops, offices, restaurants, cafés, pubs and suburban supermarkets and is also the economic hub for Mo ...

in the County of Surrey. In June 2021, he announced plans for the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours in the House of Lords.

Public office

He was a Conservative councillor in the

London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames () in southwest London forms part of Outer London and is the only London borough on both sides of the River Thames. It was created in 1965 when three smaller council areas amalgamated under the London ...

from 1986 to 1990 and again from 1998 to 2018. He served as Leader of the Council from 2010 to 2017, having previously served as Deputy Leader from 2002 to 2006 and Leader of the Opposition from 2006 to 2010. He has been, since 2006, a trustee of the Richmond Civic Trust, and since 1996 a trustee of Sir

Harold Hood Sir Harold Hood, 2nd Baronet (23 January 1916 – 5 September 2005) was the son of Sir Joseph Hood. Just before his fifteenth birthday in 1931, he succeeded to the baronetcy on his father's death. Hood was a devout Catholic and worked in Catholi ...

's Charitable Trust. He served the Olga Havel Foundation in the same capacity from 1990 to 1994. In February 2020 True was made a Minister of State at the Cabinet Office. On 6 September 2022, Liz Truss promoted him to Cabinet and appointed him

. On 13 September 2022, he was sworn-in as a Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Personal life

In 1979 he married Anne-Marie Elena Kathleen Blanco, daughter of Robin Adrian Hood, director of CAFOD from 1977 to 1982, and granddaughter of the businessman and Conservative politician Sir Joseph Hood, 1st Baronet.Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 2, Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 1594 They have two sons and one daughter.

Notes

References

*Who's Who 2011 , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:True, Nicholas True, Baron Living people 1951 births People educated at Nottingham High School Alumni of Peterhouse, Cambridge Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Conservative Party (UK) councillors Conservative Party (UK) life peers Leaders of the House of Lords Lords Privy Seal Councillors in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Leaders of local authorities of England Life peers created by Elizabeth II Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom