Hugh Dykes, Baron Dykes

Hugh John Maxwell Dykes, Baron Dykes, born 17 May 1939 to Richard and Doreen Dykes is a British politician. He is a Foreign Affairs Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords .

Dykes served as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Harrow East from 1970 until he lost his seat at the General Election of 1997. He also served as a Member of the European Parliament between 1974 and 1977. While an MP, Dykes served in the Ministry of Defence and the Cabinet Office in Edward Heath’s Government.

Following the loss of his seat in the 1997 General Election Dykes applied for selection as the Conservative candidate for the Uxbridge by-election of July 1997, but was not shortlisted. Following the defeat of Kenneth Clarke in the Conservative Leadership battle following the 1997 General Election Dykes joined the Liberal Democrats. Within a year of joining the party he came to serve as an adviser to Paddy Ashdown on European Union affairs.

Outside of his roles as Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, he has served as the Vice President of the British-German Association.

Due to his close relations with Europe Dykes has been honoured several times. In 1991 he was awarded the German Order of Merit followed by the Luxembourg Medaille pour l'Europe in 1993.

It was in 2004 that Dykes was most honoured, however, being raised to the Peerage as Baron Dykes, of Harrow Weald in the London Borough of Harrow. The same year he received the French Légion d'Honneur.

External links

* [http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/lord-lord-dykes.html Lord Dykes] profile at the site of Liberal Democrats