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Zac Goldsmith

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Zac Goldsmith

MP
Member of Parliament
for Richmond Park
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 May 2010
Preceded bySusan Kramer
Personal details
Born (1975-01-20) 20 January 1975 (age 49)
Westminster, London
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
SpouseSheherazade Goldsmith (m. 1999; divorced 2010)
Children3
ProfessionPolitician
Websitezacgoldsmith.com

Frank Zacharias Robin Goldsmith (born 20 January 1975), better known as Zac Goldsmith, is an English Conservative politician, environmentalist, and journalist, who is the elected Member of Parliament for Richmond Park. Goldsmith is the middle child of the late financier James Goldsmith and Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart.

From 1998 to 2007, Goldsmith was editor of The Ecologist magazine. During this time, he became a London campaigner and commentator on environmental issues. Goldsmith became a Conservative Party parliamentary candidate in 2005.[1] That same year, he was appointed deputy chairman of the Conservative Quality of Life Policy Group, co-authoring its report published in 2007. He was placed on the party's "A-List" of prospective parliamentary candidates by David Cameron, the Leader of the Opposition, in 2006.[2] Through an open primary in March 2007, Goldsmith was chosen to contest the constituency of Richmond Park against the incumbent Liberal Democrats.[3] In the 2010 general election, Goldsmith won the seat with a majority of 4,091 votes over the Liberal Democrat Susan Kramer.[4]

Early life

Born at Westminster Hospital in London, Goldsmith is the middle child of Sir James Goldsmith and his third wife, Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart. Goldsmith was raised at Ormeley Lodge in Ham with his siblings, Jemima and Ben. He has five paternal half-siblings,[5] and is also half-brother to Robin and India Jane Birley, his mother’s children from her first marriage.[6]

Goldsmith received early education at Richmond's King's House School and The Mall School in Twickenham. He later also attended Hawtreys.[7] He enrolled at Eton College,[8] and later earned four A Levels from the Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies.[9] As a child, Goldsmith was an avid reader of naturalist Gerald Durrell's work[8] and had a committed passion for Sir David Attenborough's wildlife programmes.[10] He later recalled, "[Attenborough] was my hero, and it was his work that made me fall in love with the natural world."[11] His ecological interests were further nourished when his father gave him a copy of Helena Norberg-Hodge's book Ancient Futures, with a note saying, "This will change your life."[9]

After school, he travelled with the International Honors Program, affiliated with his uncle, Edward Goldsmith, through New Zealand, Mexico, Hungary, Italy, and Thailand. Goldsmith lived in California for two years, working first for an organisation called Redefining Progress from 1995 to 1996 and later as a researcher for Norberg-Hodge's International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC) during 1996-98.[12] While working with ISEC, Goldsmith travelled to India. He spent a short time on an ashram in Rajasthan and lived in Ladakh for six months, studying traditional cultures and helping run a tourist education programme.[13][14]

Writing and journalism

In 1997, Goldsmith was appointed reviews editor of The Ecologist.[15][16] In 1998, he became editor-in-chief and director of The Ecologist, but didn't draw a salary.[9] Under his aegis, the magazine relaunched on 28 March 2000 in a new format. He transformed the academic journal style of the publication into a current affairs magazine format to broaden its appeal, and trebled its circulation.[17][9] In January 2006, after indicating his interest in electoral politics, he announced he was stepping down as editor.[18]

Goldsmith speaks and writes about environmental causes in Britain, which includes debating twice at the Oxford Union and delivering keynote addresses.[19][20] He has written for UK newspapers including the Daily Mail,[21] Evening Standard,[22] Observer,[23] and the Telegraph.[24][25] He is also a contributor to magazines such as the New Statesman[26] and Quintessentially Magazine.[27]

He is a contributing author of the book We Are One: A Celebration of Tribal Peoples, published in late 2009.[28] The book explores the culture of peoples around the world, portraying both its diversity and the threats it faces. Among other contributors are several western writers, such as Laurens van der Post, Noam Chomsky, Claude Lévi-Strauss, and also indigenous peoples, such as Davi Kopenawa Yanomami and Roy Sesana. The book is composed of a collection of photographs, statements from tribal people, and essays from international authors, politicians, philosophers, poets, artists, journalists, anthropologists, environmentalists and photojournalists. In his essay, Goldsmith talks about how his travel through the world in his youth gave him first-hand experience of the misery brought by the promise of western "progress" and "development". He reflects on the culture of these people and, in reverence to it, urges people in the modern world to question what "progress" can really mean.[29] The royalties from the sale of this book go to the indigenous rights organisation, Survival International.

Political career

In 2010, Goldsmith was the Conservative parliamentary candidate for the constituency of Richmond Park. His place on the roster of parliamentary candidates was announced around the time of the Conservative party's 2005 annual conference, where he stated he saw no contradiction between an interest in environmental issues and being a Conservative.[30] Around the same time, he commented in an interview on his backing of the Conservative party, arguing the Labour Party has become a party shaped by big business and big lobby groups interests[1] and is too authoritarian and centrist.[10] In May 2006, he was one of the prospective parliamentary candidates featured on David Cameron's 'A-List'.[10]

His family has a long history in politics. Goldsmith's grandfathers were both Conservative members of parliament: Frank Goldsmith was a Conservative MP and Robin Vane-Tempest Stewart, Unionist MP for County Down in the British House of Commons. Before 2005, Goldsmith supported and was involved in the campaigns of Michael Gove MP and Joanne Cash.[20]

On 16 March 2007, Goldsmith won an open primary, conducted by the Richmond Park Conservative Association,[20] to become the Conservative challenger for incumbent Susan Kramer's parliamentary seat. He had originally planned to stand in East Hampshire, a safe Conservative seat, but he changed his mind. "I just didn't know East Hampshire... I would have had to get worked up about issues that I didn't care about. The whole thing was so artificial. I wrote to them telling them I couldn't do it," he later explained.[31]

In 2008, Goldsmith was involved in a breach of electoral rules when he made a donation of £7,000 to his party while not on the electoral register. Responding to the issue, Goldsmith explained, "everything has been declared on time and accurately; however, for a few weeks last year I was not on the electoral roll, as I had removed myself from Kensington and Chelsea and was in the process of signing up in Richmond. Whatever was donated in that time may have to be repaid, but there is no suggestion that it was anything other than an oversight."[32]

In late 2009, it was published in the press that Goldsmith had non-domiciled status and that the London resident, as a discretionary beneficiary, has use of British properties through the trust set up by his late father.[33] Goldsmith responded, in a statement about the suggestions of tax avoidance, that he has "always chosen to be tax resident in the UK" and virtually all his income comes to the UK, where he has always paid full tax on it, adding that he is subject to capital gains tax on the two properties owned by the trust. A recipient of non-dom status as a result of his late father's international status, Goldsmith added that he had already instructed his accountants to relinquish it of his own volition by early 2009, and before being approached by any newspapers.[34][35]

Quality of Life Policy Group

In December 2005, David Cameron appointed Goldsmith as the deputy chairman, under former environment secretary John Gummer, of a Quality of Life Policy Group.[10] The commission was entrusted with the responsibility of examining quality-of-life issues such as carbon emissions and climate change, clean air and transport, and to offer policy ideas based on the review.[36] The group's 600-page report, co-authored by Goldsmith and Gummer, was published at the Royal Institute of British Architects on 13 September 2007.[37]

The report's recommendations included increased taxes on short-haul flights and highly polluting vehicles, with the proceeds being used to cut the cost of clean alternatives; rebates on stamp duty and council tax for people who improve the energy efficiency of their homes; and a moratorium on airport expansions.[38]

The report drew criticism from the Labour Party, along with MEP Roger Helmer who termed the proposals "anti-Conservative"[39], and MP David Wilshire (now retired), whose constituency included Heathrow, and who favoured construction of a third runway, contrary to the official Conservative Party position;[40] the proposals also drew opposition from the aviation industry.[41] Cameron commended the report, pledging to include many of its recommendations in the party's manifesto.[38]

Fundraising and awards

Sir Stirling Moss, Goldsmith and HRH Prince Charles at the launch of the annual Revolve Eco-Rally on 3 June 2007.

Goldsmith has been a member of the advisory board of the JMG Foundation, which disburses grants globally to a range of environmental advocacy groups using the financial legacy left by James Goldsmith.[42] Additionally, he is on the National Gardens Scheme's Council of Trustees as one of four Ambassadors.[43] He is also a patron of the Mihai Eminescu Trust, which conserves and maintains communities in Transylvania and the Maramures,[44] and the Fortune Forum, a philanthropic organisation.[45]

In November 2002, Goldsmith helped establish FARM, a campaigning organisation for British farmers.[46] Goldsmith also funded the Organic Targets Bill Campaign to promote organic farming in 1999.[47] He is a longstanding donor to the Soil Association. In 2007, he was a participant at the Soil Association Annual Conference, during which he competed in an organic fashion show on 25 January[48] and debated on a Question Time panel on 27 January.[49]

In 2003, Goldsmith was awarded the Beacon Prize for Young Philanthropist of the Year for his contribution to environmental awareness and protection.[47] The following year, he received the Mikhail Gorbachev-founded Green Cross International's Global Green Award for International Environmental Leadership.[50]

Positions and perspectives

An enthusiastic advocate of direct democracy, such as Switzerland's model of using referendums, Goldsmith believes it would help combat feelings of disenfranchisement among people and increase accountability.[51]

Among his key interests is education. In an interview with fair trade fashion designers People Tree, he said "I've put a big emphasis on schools. One campaign is to ensure every school [is] fitted with a proper kitchen that can double up as a classroom. Children need to know where their food comes from and how to cook it. We're also trying to help every school source its food sustainably and locally."[52]

Local Issues

On a local level Goldsmith has been involved in campaigns within his constituency of Richmond Park, in matters such as schools, hospitals and recreation areas.

In 2007, he opposed the opening of a superstore by supermarket chain Sainsbury's in Barnes. He spearheaded a referendum conducted by the Electoral Reform Society to poll local residents on the issue, working closely with a local campaign group. With a turnout of 61.6%, more than 4,000 residents, who made up 85% of the votes cast, came forward to oppose the construction of the store at White Hart Lane. Sainsbury's ultimately opened the branch, under a revised planning application.[53][54][55]

The government department with ultimate responsibility for the Royal Parks, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is looking to recover its expenditure on a programme of remedial works on the public car parks in Richmond Park through the introduction of parking fees for visitors. Goldsmith organised a "mass rally" in the Royal Park on 30 January 2010 in conjunction with other local Conservatives to protest about the proposed charging.[56] More than 1,000 people turned up.[57]

Family and personal life

Goldsmith was married for ten years to Sheherazade Ventura-Bentley, with whom he has two daughters and a son.[20] The couple wed on 5 June 1999 in a ceremony at St Simon Zelotes church in Knightsbridge, which was followed by a dance at Goldsmith's childhood home, Ormeley Lodge.[58] Goldsmith and Sheherazade separated in April 2009.[59] Sheherazade filed for divorce four days after the 2010 elections on the grounds of her husband's adultery, which was admitted by Goldsmith; the couple were divorced on 10 May 2010.[59]

Goldsmith is a poker enthusiast, which he plays regularly with family friends.[8] He claims to mostly wear recycled Savile Row suits that once belonged to his late father.[9] Goldsmith was featured in Vanity Fair's 67th Annual International Best-Dressed List.[60]

References

  1. ^ a b Wheeler, Brian (11 January 2006). "Interview: Zac Goldsmith". BBC. Retrieved 8 October 2007.
  2. ^ "The A-list in full". Independent. 28 May 2006. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ ""Richmond Park Conservatives – News – Open Primary Candidates Chosen". Retrieved 3 January 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  4. ^ "Election 2010-Constituency:Richmond Park". Election 2010. BBC. 06 May 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Lundy, Darryl. "Person Page 5917:Sir James Goldsmith". thePeerage.com. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
  6. ^ Lundy, Darryl. "Person Page 20305:Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart". thePeerage.com. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
  7. ^ Goldsmith, Annabel (2004). Annabel: An Unconventional Life. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
  8. ^ a b c Berens, Jessica (13 April 2003). "Young, gifted and Zac". Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  9. ^ a b c d e Bertodano, Helena (27 March 2000). "Golden boy in his Dad's old jacket". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  10. ^ a b c d Lean, Geoffrey (11 December 2005). "Zac Goldsmith: The green gambler". Independent. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  11. ^ Roberts, Alison (6 April 2004). "Indulge in 'Slowfood'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  12. ^ Edwardes, Charlotte (25 September 1999). "The billionaire's son". Daily Mail. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  13. ^ Vidal, John (7 November 2002). "Can Zac save the planet?". Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  14. ^ Mollard, Angela (19 July 1998). "Green giant – Interview – Zac Goldsmith". The Sunday Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ Wilson, Steve (23 April 2000). "Goldsmith hopes relaunch will revive The Ecologist's fortunes". Sunday Herald. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Goldsmith, Edward (17 July 1997). "Editorial". The Ecologist. p. 130. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ Wasley, Andrew (15 October 2007). "'No one tells us what we can or can't print'". Independent Media Weekly. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  18. ^ Tempest, Matthew (17 January 2006). "Green brief makes Goldsmith loosen reins at Ecologist". Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  19. ^ "Zac Goldsmith to speak at Living in a Low Carbon World 2008" (PDF). Low Carbon World. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  20. ^ a b c d "Zac Goldsmith: Parliamentary candidate". Conservative Party. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  21. ^ Goldsmith, Zac (6 August 2000). "Why I believe my father was a victim of the great cancer cover-up". Daily Mail. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  22. ^ Goldsmith, Zac (12 November 2007). "London just doesn't need a third Heathrow runway". Evening Standard. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  23. ^ "Goldsmith columns". Observer. London. 17 March 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  24. ^ Goldsmith, Zac (20 October 2001). "Is green the new blue?". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  25. ^ Goldsmith, Zac (23 March 2002). "Earth's wake-up call". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  26. ^ "Articles by Zac Goldsmith". New Statesman. Spencer Neal. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  27. ^ "Editorial Team". Quintessentially. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
  28. ^ Survival International – We Are One
  29. ^ Eede, Joanna (2009). We are One: A Celebration of Tribal Peoples. Quadrille Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84400-729-5.
  30. ^ Carlin, Brendan (6 October 2005). "Green Goldsmith planning a Tory future". Daily Telegraph. p. 12. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  31. ^ Cooke, Rachel (24 June 2007). "The golden boy of the green movement has now turned blue". Observer. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  32. ^ Mason, Ian (19 August 2008). "Goldsmith denies election funding claims". Richmond and Twickenham Times . Retrieved 21 August 2008. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  33. ^ Tory Zac Goldsmith reveals he is a non-dom The Times, November 29, 2009
  34. ^ Goldsmith, Zac. "Statement from Zac on his Tax Status". 30 November 2009.
  35. ^ Goldsmith, Zac. "Zac answers Lib Dem smears". 15 December 2009.
  36. ^ Lyons, James (10 December 2005). "Cameron recruits eco maverick to policy review on warming". The Western Mail. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  37. ^ Flintoff, John-Paul (9 September 2007). "You're going green ...or else". The Sunday Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  38. ^ a b Morgan, Vivienne (13 September 2007). "Cameron in Quality of Life manifesto pledge". Press Association National Newswire. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  39. ^ Peev, Gerri (14 September 2007). "Tories' green plan slated by all sides". Scotsman. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  40. ^ Hughes, David (11 November 2008). "Hoon Takes Labour Flak Over Heathrow Runway Plan". Press Association National Newswire. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  41. ^ Murphy, Joe (13 September 2007). "Tories split over Green taxes on cars and flights". Evening Standard. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  42. ^ Debrett's People of Today. Debrett's. 24 May 2001. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  43. ^ "NGS Council of Trustees". National Gardens Scheme (NGS). Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  44. ^ "About Us". Mihai Eminescu Trust. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  45. ^ "The Board". Fortune Forum. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  46. ^ Bingham, John (5 November 2002). "New group challenges the NFU's dominance". The Journal. Trinity Mirror. p. 34. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  47. ^ a b "Zac Goldsmith Biography". The Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  48. ^ "M&S takes part in organic catwalk against climate change as the Soil Association goes for glamour". Soil Association. 23 January 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  49. ^ "One Planet Agriculture: Preparing for a post-peak oil food and farming future". Soil Association. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  50. ^ Husbands, Helen (31 October 2007). "Zac Goldsmith is a 'Great Briton'". Newsquest Regional Press. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  51. ^ "The Maverick". The Times. 7 February 2009. pp. 16–22.
  52. ^ Minney, Safia (2008). "Safia meets Zac Goldsmith, ecologist and politician". People Tree. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  53. ^ Fahy, Natalie (22 June 2007). "No vote won't stop Sainsbury's". This is Local London. Newsquest. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  54. ^ http://www.zacgoldsmith.com/article.asp?contentID=3&newsID=25
  55. ^ Rajan, Amol (28 May 2008). "Zac Goldsmith calls for boycott of Sainsbury's". Independent. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  56. ^ Richmond Park Rally against parking charges
  57. ^ "Hopes fading for Richmond Park parking charges challenge", 5 March 2010 Richmond and Twickenham Times
  58. ^ Dempster, Nigel (28 January 1995). "Zac names day to tie the knot". Daily Mail. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  59. ^ a b "MP Goldsmith divorced over adultery". The Press Association. 10 May 2010
  60. ^ "Vanity Fair Presents The 67th Annual International Best-Dressed List 2006". Vanity Fair. 1 September 2006. p. 323. ISSN 0733-8899. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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