David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood
(1938-), Politician; Leader of the Liberal Party and first Presiding Officer of the Scottish ParliamentSitter in 22 portraits
Politician and Leader of the Liberal Party (1976-88). Steel was born in Edinburgh and educated in Nairobi and Edinburgh. He became Liberal MP for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles in 1965. President of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in Britain (1966-9), Steel sponsored the private members' bill that became the Abortion Act (1967). In 1977 he negotiated the Lib-Lab Pact with the minority Labour government, but in 1982 formed the Liberal/SDP Alliance with the new Social Democratic Party. He shared the leadership with David Owen until the two parties merged in 1988 as the Liberal Democrats. He was knighted in 1990 and made a life peer in 1997.
David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood
by Bassano & Vandyk Studios
half-plate film negative, 29 June 1978
NPG x174113
David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood
by Bassano & Vandyk Studios
half-plate film negative, 29 June 1978
NPG x174114
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