Lord Michael Bates

Michael Bates was born in Gateshead in 1961 and educated at Heathfield Senior High School and Gateshead College. He is also a graduate of the Said Business School, University of Oxford (MBA,98).

He served as Member of Parliament for the Langbaurgh parliamentary constituency (now Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) from 1992 to 1997. Between 1994 and 1997 he held a number of ministerial posts including Government Whip, Sponsor Minister for the North East of England and HM Paymaster General.

Between 1998 and 2005 he was Director of Research & Consultancy for Oxford Analytica a firm which provides analysis of global economic, business and political trends.

He was appointed as a Member of the House of Lords in May 2008. He served as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2006—2010 holding a number of shadow ministerial roles between 2008—2010 including: Energy & Climate Change, Cabinet Office and Children, Schools and Families.

Michael’s interests are education, enterprise and leading a campaign for a meaningful observance of the Olympic Truce during the London 2012 Games for which he is currently undertaking a 3500 miles walk from Olympia, Greece to London see: www.walkfotruce.org