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Jack Straw

Jack Straw

 

After three decades in Parliament and successive Cabinet positions, Jack Straw is one of the most experienced and insightful British and international political figures.

Jack Straw read law at Leeds University and in the 1960s became a national student leader known for radical positions, to the point of being described by the Foreign Office as a “troublemaker acting with malice aforethought” for his political activity involving Chile. After qualifying as a barrister he had various media roles and entered Parliament in 1979 as the MP for Blackburn. He was Shadow spokesman on Education, then Environment and Shadow Home Secretary before being appointed Home Secretary after the Labour Party won the 1997 general election.

His time as Home Secretary had its fair share of controversies (including new measures to increase police powers to deal with suspected terrorists) and saw the European Convention in Human Rights incorporated into British law.

Appointed Foreign Secretary in 2001, he played a leading role in the dramatic foreign policy problems arising from the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and then the interventions in Afghanistan and then Iraq. He publicly defended these decisions, but in 2010 he told the Iraq Inquiry in London that the 2003 decision to go to war “had haunted him”.

As Foreign Secretary he also was closely involved with many top European decisions such as the negotiation of the EU Budget deal in 2005 and all the strategic EU economic issues associated with it.

In 2006 he was appointed Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal with responsibility for parliamentary reform. He returned to the Opposition benches after Labour lost the 2010 general elections.

In 2011 Jack Straw attracted controversy for his frank policy positions on the future of the Eurozone (“this Eurozone cannot last”) and in outspoken criticism of the car insurance industry and in 2006 when he called for Muslim women not to wear the full veil (“I felt uncomfortable about talking to someone ‘face-to-face’ whom I could not see”). Through his close relations with his diverse Blackburn constituency including his position as honorary vice president of Blackburn Rovers football club he has given much thought to sensitive community issues in a modern democracy. In 2009 on the BBC’s Question Time programme he was a member of the panel which included British National Party leader Nick Griffin.

Often criticized for his firm approach to civil liberties questions concerning suspected terrorists and his high-profile role in supporting the Iraq intervention, Jack Straw remains a popular figure in the UK and Europe, not least for his deft self-deprecating humour: as Home Secretary he joked that his large department was “full of civil servants working diligently on projects that might ruin my career”.

In 2012 his autobiography Last Man Standing: Memoirs of a Political Survivor was published and has been described by the Guardian as ‘a tour de force through the fluctuating fortunes of the labour party from the mid-1960s to the 2010 election defeat’.

His disarmingly wry light-touch style as well as his formidable intellect and senior operational experience in so many policy areas give him a unique profile. Few active politicians today match his high-level policy insight and breadth. He has a wealth of vivid personal anecdotes and thought-provoking examples of what works in politics – and what does not.

 

Testimonial

“The Rt. Hon Jack Straw proved to be a truly extraordinary speaker at ISOA’s Summit. We have had many keynotes for our past events, but Mr. Straw was particularly brilliant, on-topic and courageous with insights that were both astute and thought-provoking. His remarks were drawn from his eventful international relations tenure at the highest levels of government during some of the most turbulent years in recent global history; they were perfectly shaped for our audience.

Mr. Straw went beyond our expectations and graciously took the time to personally meet many of our membership and conference delegates and in the process truly endeared himself to the audience. I would highly recommend Mr. Straw as a speaker for any prominent, internationally-focused event.”

Doug Brooks, President, International Stability Operations Association, Washington DC

Contact Jack Straw via a Specialist Speakers agent on 0203 002 4125 for speaking and presentation in both in-person and virtual settings.

 
 

For speaking enquiries or to book Jack Straw contact a Specialist Speakers agent on 01455 633289 or email Specialist Speakers

 
 
 
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