Education
Language was educated at Lathallan School, Rugby School and Sidney Sussex College of The University of Cambridge, where he was also a member of the Cambridge Footlights.
Language was educated at Lathallan School, Rugby School and Sidney Sussex College of The University of Cambridge, where he was also a member of the Cambridge Footlights.
Language was made a life peer as Baron Language of Monkton, of Merrick and the Rhinns of Kells in Dumfries and Galloway on 29 September 1997 and is currently chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. In May 2011, Language became chairman of the board of directors of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Incorporated.
Language first stood for Parliament for Central Ayrshire in 1970, but was unsuccessful. In the February 1974 general election he was defeated by Labour"s James White contesting Glasgow Pollok.
Following this he became Member of Parliament for Galloway from 1979 to 1983 and for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale from 1983 to 1997 and was a minister for a number of years.
He served as a Government whip from 1981 to 1986, Under-Secretary of State for Employment (1986), Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (1986–1987) and Minister of State for Scotland (1987–1990). He joined the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1990 to 1995, and then President of the Board of Trade (and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry) until 1997.
He was closely involved in John Major"s re-election campaign as leader of the Conservative Party in July 1995. Language lost his seat in the 1997 general election, one of seven Cabinet members to do so (the others being Malcolm Rifkind, Michael Portillo, Michael Forsyth, Roger Freeman, William Waldegrave and Tony Newton).
Language is chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.
As chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, Language insisted that Tony Blair"s paid work for UI Energy Corporation, an oil firm with interests in Iraq, just 14 months after leaving office should be made public following a period when the committee agreed to keep it confidential due to "market sensitivity". Language has also been a Non-Executive Director of Charlemagne Capital Limited, since 2006 and European Telecom Public Limited Company since 1997. On 30 January 2014 Language stated that if Scotland voted for independence, it would dishonour the sacrifice of those who died fighting for Great Britain in the First World war.
48th United Kingdom Parliament. 49th United Kingdom Parliament. 50th United Kingdom Parliament.
51st United Kingdom Parliament]
Since 1997, Language has been a member of the Board of Directors of Marsh & McLennan Companies.