Geoffrey Lloyd, Baron Geoffrey-Lloyd Explained

Geoffrey William Geoffrey-Lloyd, Baron Geoffrey-Lloyd, PC (17 January 1902 – 12 September 1984), was a British Conservative politician.

Background and education

The eldest son of G. W. A. Lloyd of Newbury, Lloyd was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge (MA), during which time he was President of the Cambridge Union Society in 1925.

Lloyd contested South East Southwark in 1924 without success and Birmingham Ladywood in 1929, when he was defeated by just 11 votes. He was Private Secretary to Sir Samuel Hoare (Secretary of State for Air), 1926–1929, then to Stanley Baldwin (Prime Minister, 1929, subsequently as Leader of the Opposition), 1929–1931.

He was elected as member of parliament (MP) for Birmingham Ladywood in 1931 with a 14,000 majority, holding the seat until 1945. He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Stanley Baldwin (Lord President of the Council), 1931–1935 and as Prime Minister in 1935. He held office as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, 1935–1939; as Secretary for Mines, 1939–1940; as Secretary for Petroleum, 1940–1942; as Chairman of the Oil Control Board, 1939–1945; as Minister in charge of Petroleum Warfare Department 1940–1945, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power, 1942–1945; and as Minister of Information in 1945. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1943.

He was a Governor of British Broadcasting Corporation, 1946–1949. He returned to Parliament as member for Birmingham King's Norton, 1950–1955, and for Sutton Coldfield from 1955 until February 1974. During this time he was Minister of Fuel and Power, 1951–1955 and Minister of Education, 1957-October 1959.

He changed his surname from Lloyd to Geoffrey-Lloyd by deed poll on 18 April 1974.

He was created a life peer 6 May 1974 as Baron Geoffrey-Lloyd, of Broomfield in the County of Kent.

Lord Geoffrey-Lloyd died at age 82 from natural causes in Kent.