Archy Kirkwood


Archibald Johnstone Kirkwood, Baron Kirkwood of Kirkhope, PC is a British politician, a member of the Liberal Democrats.

Education

Kirkwood was educated at Cranhill Secondary School in Cranhill, Glasgow and studied pharmacy at Heriot-Watt University, gaining a BSc in 1971. He became a solicitor in Hawick and Notary public.

Parliamentary career

Kirkwood was Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Roxburgh and Berwickshire from 1983 until 2005.
In 1986 he with two other MPs Simon Hughes MP and Michael Meadowcroft MP and the National League of Young Liberals and other parts of the party produced the booklet Across the Divide Liberal Values on Defence and Disarmament. This was the rally call that defeated the party leadership in the debate over the issue of an independent nuclear deterrent.
A Chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Work and Pensions, Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope, is listed in the House of Lords Register of Interests as the Chairman of the Unum Customer Advisory Panel for which he received payment from Unum. He received additional payments for other work for Unum.

Personal life

Kirkwood was knighted in the 2003 New Year Honours, and dubbed by the Queen at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on 3 July 2003.
On 13 May 2005 it was announced that he would be created a life peer, and on 10 June 2005 he was created Baron Kirkwood of Kirkhope, of Kirkhope in the Scottish Borders.
He married Rosemary Chester on 30 December 1972. They have a son and daughter.