Roger John Liddle, Baron Liddle (born 14 June 1947) is a British political adviser and consultant who is principally known for being Special Adviser on European matters to the former

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Tony Blair Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. He was Leader ...

, and President of the European Commission,

José Manuel Barroso José Manuel Durão Barroso (; born 23 March 1956) is a Portuguese politician and law professor. He previously served from 2002 to 2004 as the List of Prime Ministers of Portugal, 114th prime minister of Portugal and from 2004–2014 as the 11 ...

. He also worked together with

Peter Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, (born 21 October 1953) is a British politician, lobbyist and diplomat who has served as British Ambassador to the United States since February 2025. A member of the Labour Party, Mandelson serve ...

on books outlining the political philosophy of the Labour Party under Blair's leadership. He is the chair of

Progressive Britain Progressive Britain, formerly known as Progress, is a political organisation associated with the British Labour Party, founded in 1996 to support the New Labour leadership of Tony Blair. It is seen as being on the right of the party. Progress ...

, the successor organisation to the international think tank

Policy Network Policy Network was an international centre-left think tank based in London. The President of Policy Network was former UK First Secretary of State and EU Trade Commissioner Lord Mandelson; Lord Liddle (former Special Adviser to President of the ...

and Progress, and was Pro-Chancellor of

Lancaster University Lancaster University (officially The University of Lancaster) is a collegiate public university, public research university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established in 1964 by royal charter, as one of several new univer ...

until 2020. In December 2021, Liddle was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by

Family

Liddle was the son of John Thwaites Liddle and Elizabeth Temple. Born on 14 June 1947 in

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from ) is a city in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. Carlisle's early history is marked by the establishment of a settlement called Luguvalium to serve forts along Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain. Due to its pro ...

, he attended

Carlisle Grammar School Carlisle ( , ; from ) is a city in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. Carlisle's early history is marked by the establishment of a settlement called Luguvalium to serve forts along Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain. Due to its proxim ...

. and gained the Wyndham Scholarship at

The Queen's College, Oxford The Queen's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, England. The college was founded in 1341 by Robert de Eglesfield in honour of Philippa of Hainault, queen of England. It is distinguished by its predominantly neoclassi ...

, where he gained degrees in Modern History and Management Studies. In 1983 he married the Hon.

Caroline Thomson Caroline Agnes Morgan Thomson, Lady Liddle (born 15 May 1954) was chair of the charity Oxfam until October 2020. She is a former BBC executive and was the Corporation's chief operating officer, from 2006 to 2012 and she stood in for Mark Thomps ...

– daughter of Lord Thomson of Monifieth, former Labour Member of Parliament for Dundee East, Cabinet minister and European Commissioner. She was chief operating officer of the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

, until she was made redundant in 2011 amidst controversy over the selection of a new BBC

Director General A director general, general director or director-general (plural: ''directors general'', ''general directors'', ''directors-general'', ''director generals'' or ''director-generals'') is a senior executive officer, often the chief executive officer ...

Career

After completing his degrees Liddle worked in research for the Oxford School of Social and Administrative Studies and as an industrial relations Officer for The Electricity Council. In 1976 he moved into politics by becoming Special Adviser to William Rodgers,

Secretary of State for Transport The secretary of state for transport, also referred to as the transport secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the policies of the Departm ...

, during the government of

James Callaghan Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff ( ; 27 March 191226 March 2005) was a British statesman and Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the L ...

. From there he became Director of the Public Policy Centre, undertaking pioneering work on the regulation of privatised industries, exchange rate policy, regional policy, science and industrial policy, employee participation and wage determination, and choice in public services. Liddle then moved into the private sector for 10 years, taking the position of managing director of Prima Europe Ltd, a strategy consultancy company which advised on the impact of political and regulatory developments at European and national levels.

Government

In 1997 he moved back into politics to become Special Adviser on European matters to Prime Minister

. During a seven-year spell in this role he developed a new UK policy of positive engagement in the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

, focusing on economic reform, innovation and enterprise promotion; modernisation of Welfare States and labour market reform; as well as institutional issues, the Constitutional Treaty, and European Defence. He was also responsible for liaison with business and trade unions on European issues. Advancing from Number 10, he became a Member of the Cabinet of the European Union

Trade Commissioner Trade commissioner is the title of a government official whose primary duties are to promote international trade agreements and export trade programs on behalf of a national or regional government authority. Such envoys are normally posted abroa ...

, where he advised on EU policy and their impact on the UK. In 2006 he moved on to become Principal Adviser to the

President of the European Commission The president of the European Commission, also known as president of the College of Commissioners is the Head of government, head of the European Commission, the Executive (government), executive branch of the European Union (EU). The president ...

, leading a team of economists and experts in the Bureau of European Policy Advisers advising on the economic and social challenges facing Europe. Liddle is currently chairman of

– an international think tank bringing together academics, policymakers and politicians across the progressive centre left; responsible for major projects on the future of the European Social Model, public service reform, immigration and integration, flexicurity, and globalisation and social justice. He is a visiting fellow of the European Institute at the

London School of Economics The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. The school specialises in the social sciences. Founded ...

. He is also former chair of the UK government's New Industry, New Jobs, Universities and Skills advisory panel, which reported directly to

Lord Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, (born 21 October 1953) is a British politician, lobbyist and diplomat who has served as British Ambassador to the United States since February 2025. A member of the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party ...

, who was then

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills The secretary of state for business and trade (business secretary), is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom His Majesty's Government, abbreviated to HM Government or otherwise UK Government, is the central go ...

Peerage

It was announced that Liddle would be awarded a peerage in the

2010 Dissolution Honours List The 2010 Dissolution Honours List was issued on 28 May 2010 at the advice of the outgoing Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. The list was gazetted on 15 June. Life peerages Conservative * Timothy Eric Boswell, former Whip and Parliamentary secreta ...

. 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. Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. With the exception of the D ...

on 19 June 2010 as Baron Liddle, of

in the County of Cumbria, and was introduced in the House of Lords on 21 June 2010, supported by

and Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank.

Political approach

Liddle has also played a direct role in elected politics, as a councillor on

Oxford City Council Oxford City Council is the local authority for the city of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. Oxford has had a council since medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974, Oxford has been a non-metropolitan district, wi ...

and

Lambeth London Borough Council Lambeth London Borough Council, which styles itself Lambeth Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Lambeth in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of the 32 in London. The council has been under Labour ...

. In 2013 he was elected to

Cumbria County Council Cumbria County Council was the county council for the non-metropolitan county of Cumbria in the North West of England. Established in April 1974, following its first elections held the previous year, it was an elected local government body re ...

for the Wigton Division. He was a founding member of the

Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties Form ...

in 1981 and a member of the party's national committee until 1986, during which time he contested a number of parliamentary seats, including the 1986 Fulham byelection. Liddle has written four books, all focusing firmly on European issues. Most recently ''Global Europe, Social Europe'' with

Anthony Giddens Anthony Giddens, Baron Giddens (born 18 January 1938) is an English sociologist who is known for his theory of structuration and his holistic view of modern societies. He is considered to be one of the most prominent modern sociologists and is ...

and Patrick Diamond. Together with Peter Mandelson he wrote ''The Blair Revolution: Can New Labour Deliver?'' in 1996. His thoughts on the future of Europe, made during his time in the Commission, were published in a ''Fabian Ideas'' pamphlet in 2005. He became a member of the Labour Party associated

Progress Progress is movement towards a perceived refined, improved, or otherwise desired state. It is central to the philosophy of progressivism, which interprets progress as the set of advancements in technology, science, and social organization effic ...

strategy board in 2017.

Publications

* ''Challenging the politics of evasion: the only way to renew European social democracy,'' Policy Network, December 2009

* ''After the crisis: A new socio-economic settlement for the EU,'' Policy Network, November 200

* ''Beyond New Labour: the future of social democracy in Britain,'' Politicos, 2009

* ''Building a low-carbon future: the politics of climate change,'' Policy Network, June 200

* ''Social pessimism: the new social reality of Europe, Policy Network,'' October 2008

* ''Progressive governance 2008: the path to a global progressive consensus,'' April 200

* ''Creating a culture of fairness: a progressive response to income inequality in Britain,'' January 200

* ''A new social Europe,'' September 200

* ''The social reality of Europe,'' March 200

* ''Global Europe Social Europe,'' October 200

* ''Economic Reform in Europe: Priorities for the next five years,'' November 2004

References

External links

*
Policy Network
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liddle, Roger 1947 births British writers Councillors in the London Borough of Lambeth Labour Party (UK) life peers Life peers created by Elizabeth II Labour Party (UK) councillors Living people People educated at Carlisle Grammar School Members of Oxford City Council Members of Cumbria County Council Social Democratic Party (UK) parliamentary candidates Alumni of the Queen's College, Oxford British political consultants People from Carlisle, Cumbria