Background
FOSTER, Derek was born on June 25, 1937 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. Parents: Joseph Foster and Ethel Maud Foster (née Ragg).
FOSTER, Derek was born on June 25, 1937 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. Parents: Joseph Foster and Ethel Maud Foster (née Ragg).
Bede Grammar School, Sunderland. Oxford University, Bachelor of Arts, philosophy politics and economics, 1960. Spoken languages: French, German.
After Tony Blair became leader in 1994, he was keen to appoint a new Chief Whip and asked Foster to stand aside, in return for the promise of a seat in the Cabinet if and when Labour returned to power. Foster eventually agreed and became Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1995. After giving the matter further thought, Foster stood down from the government after just two days, and later publicly accused Mr Blair of having broken his promise to him.
He was eventually appointed chair of the Commons sub-committee on employment, becoming something of a thorn in the Government"s side during Mr Blair"s first term.
But the employment sub-committee was abolished in 2001 and he became a backbencher, retiring from the Commons at the 2005 general election. On 13 May 2005 it was announced that he would be created a life peer, and in June 2005 the peerage was gazetted as Baron Foster of Bishop Auckland, of Bishop Auckland in the County of Durham.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army; 48th United Kingdom Parliament. 49th United Kingdom Parliament. 50th United Kingdom Parliament.
51st United Kingdom Parliament.
52nd United Kingdom Parliament. 53rd United Kingdom Parliament]
He is a member of the Labour Party.
Foster was Chief Whip of the opposition between 1985 and 1995, becoming a member of the Privy Council in 1993.
Spouse Anne Foster (née Bulmer), 1972. Children: Graeme, Kevin, Karl, Wendy.