Who is lord laidlaw

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This involved building a new school for students, designing a curriculum, and engaging the students and parents. This school is now part of the Laidlaw Schools Trust with two, soon to be three secondary schools, five primaries and five nursery schools, serving over c.

In the Laidlaw Library opened at Leeds University. This is the first major library built for the University since The building will be the focal point for student enterprise and innovation activity on the Leeds University campus. It will also provide a range of key facilities, including space for study and social learning, educational outreach activity, and support for employability, careers and skills development.

Irvine Laidlaw was involved in Conservative politics for 20 years, initially through support for the Party in Westminster. In he became the major financial supporter of the Party in Scotland when the first elections were held for the first Scottish Parliament. He resigned from the House in His racing activities have included:. Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay. Back to Team. Lord Laidlaw is a committed philanthropist, serial entrepreneur, and accomplished sportsman.

And still does. Eventually, he was recommended by Iain Duncan Smith, and in June Laidlaw distributed cards to friends with the following printed note: "Irvine Laidlaw is pleased to announce that Her Majesty the Queen has approved that a Life Barony be conferred upon him. Before sending this rather pompous message, Laidlaw had given a pledge to the Lords Appointments Commission that he would give up his tax exile status after being appointed to the Lords.

Despite numerous requests, including several from Tory leader David Cameron, Laidlaw has so far declined. He has cited "a mixture of personal and political reasons" for not having done so but the chairman of the Commission, Lord Stevenson, has told Laidlaw in a letter that these reasons were "irrelevant to the matter in hand". One widely reported reason for Laidlaw's reluctance to return to the UK is the prospect of a divorce — English matrimonial laws are among the most generous in the world to spouses.

Laidlaw is a man who likes to win. Google the words "Irvine Laidlaw" and "winner" and a string of successes appear. If you get him off the subjects of business and politics, he talks animatedly about cars and boats: he races both very successfully.

Among his various boats, a succession of multi-million-pound racing yachts called Highland Fling have given him numerous international triumphs, making him a world-class sailor.

And then there are the sports cars, all 15 of them. Laidlaw is a regular competitor in historic car racing around the world. After six months working for IIR, I wrote to him saying that I thought I was travelling too much and that I was not being very productive. I received no answer. It was not what he wanted to hear.

Although he never said so, he probably thought I was a loser, at least in his terms. Irvine Laidlaw may have no children to leave his fortune to, but he was undoubtedly an excellent father to the IIR business.

For much of the Nineties, he expressed a desire to become a billionaire. He fell slightly short. That still makes him worth five times as much as Simon Cowell or the Beckhams. Last week, I spoke to several IIR old-timers. Loyalty to Laidlaw is still strong. He remains a much-admired man — feared by some and respected by many.

Most said there was nothing in their dealings with him that hinted at his sex addiction. One, however, told me that "Irvine was always doing things like that, but no one cared". Several pointed out his significant charitable giving to schools and educational trusts. Laidlaw has said that he plans to give much of his fortune away before he dies. Although I am not at all religious, in recalling my experiences with Laidlaw a line from the Bible sprang to mind: "What profiteth a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul.

If not his soul, then Baron Laidlaw will hopefully rediscover a true sense of purpose in the weeks ahead — somewhere far beyond his impressive catalogue of beautiful cars, houses and boats. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. Argos AO. Privacy Policy Feedback. Can you talk? Scroll down for more Money and Power: Laidlaw and wife Christine on their yacht in Monaco.

Laidlow with William Hague, who, Laidlow once joked, was 'in his pocket'. Laidlow in after being appointed to the Lords. And all being well, Antarctica in January Cars are also a big part of Lord Laidlaw's life. He tried racing them when he was young, but gave up as a consequence of a 'lack of talent and lack of money', before returning to it in By then, he had at least got the money, as he pointed out with a nice touch of self-depreciation.

He now owns over 40 cars around the world; dating back to , a mix of classic and contemporary, road and race cars that he competes with regularly. I don't know how he fits it all in, but now lunch is done, he must get back to it and I've already made him late for his next meeting. Fortunately, he's not the type to mind.

This article was first printed in the November of Boat International. Boat Business. Photo by Bruce Thomas. Lord Laidlaw left Scotland for Hong Kong, and never returned. I'm incredibly impatient, and that hasn't changed as I've got older, as my wife will tell you. Lord Laidlaw's Highland Fling 10 takes the lead in another race. Highland Fling 12 is Lord Laidlaw's latest racing yacht. Lord Laidlaw's 68 metre Feadship Lady Christine is the perfect, civilised option for cruising.

More about this yacht. On board sailing superyacht Regina, star of James Bond film Skyfall. Similar yachts for sale. Most popular. Will shipwrecked Benetti Blue Gold sail again?