68.168.131.216 (talk) Chief to Chief - Malcolm Sinclair, The Earl of Caithness Jamie Sempill 07/15/2009 10:17 AM |
Jimbo Wales (talk | contribs) Someone used his name in perpetrating a scam - not particularly relevant to his biography, is it? |
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He was made a [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Counsellor]] in 1990. He is the Chief Executive of the [[Clan Sinclair Trust]]. He is an opponent of [[fractional-reserve banking]].<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90205-0003.htm#09020540000096/ Hansard archives]</ref> |
He was made a [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Counsellor]] in 1990. He is the Chief Executive of the [[Clan Sinclair Trust]]. He is an opponent of [[fractional-reserve banking]].<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90205-0003.htm#09020540000096/ Hansard archives]</ref> |
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In 1999 details of a proposed $20-30m film based on the racy life of Robert Burns emerged, provisionally entitled "Clarinda" after Burns's most famous unrequited love with the Earl's backing. The producers Alloway Films secured financial backing from a [[Sinclair]], a European merchant banker, believed to be the main source of the funding. <ref>"Stars lined up for role of Burns" ''TheHerald, Scotland'' November 5, 1999 [http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/stars-lined-up-for-role-of-burns-1.264003]</ref> <ref>"Fans Angry As Depp Takes Burns Role From Mcgregor" ''IMDb'' April 4, 2000 [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000136/news?year=2000;start=21]</ref> <ref>"Burns the movie" ''The World Burns Club'' Newsletter January 2000 [http://www.worldburnsclub.com/newsletter/0001/0100_burns_the_movie.htm]</ref>. In 2002 Police interviewed the Earl about his involvement in an "advance-fee fraud" where the producers of a film about Robert Burns entitled "Clarinda" handed over about £15,000 in fees paid into a Paris Bank Account in the expectation that they would obtain £20 million of finance for the film. The Earl of Caithness had been approached by a member of the Sinclair clan who claimed to be very wealthy and the Earl had arranged a lunch with the film producers at the House of Lords. The Earl was not involved in the financial aspects and commented ''"I suppose this is the kind is a hazard associated with having a title."'' <ref>"A long wait for Burns' life through a lens" ''The Sunday Times'' January 19, 2003 [http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article215428.ece]</ref> <ref>"Film Funding Scam" ''Rampant Scotland Newsletter'' August 10, 2002 [http://www.rampantscotland.com/let020810.htm]</ref> |
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In 2009 the Earl said ''"...I do not believe there is an obligation towards the clan in any formal sense. For many years I took no interest in the Clan because I was too busy earning a living and bringing up the family...If a chief can give the time, particularly to the Diaspora, then there are huge rewards for everyone and I would hope that most chiefs can do that."'' <ref>Chief to Chief - Malcolm Sinclair, The Earl of Caithness Jamie Sempill 07/15/2009 10:17 AM [http://www.panalba.com/articles/view/p/chief-to-chief-malcolm-sinclair-the-earl-of-caithness/]</ref> |
In 2009 the Earl said ''"...I do not believe there is an obligation towards the clan in any formal sense. For many years I took no interest in the Clan because I was too busy earning a living and bringing up the family...If a chief can give the time, particularly to the Diaspora, then there are huge rewards for everyone and I would hope that most chiefs can do that."'' <ref>Chief to Chief - Malcolm Sinclair, The Earl of Caithness Jamie Sempill 07/15/2009 10:17 AM [http://www.panalba.com/articles/view/p/chief-to-chief-malcolm-sinclair-the-earl-of-caithness/]</ref> |
Revision as of 00:13, 8 August 2010
Malcolm Ian Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness, PC (born 3 November 1948) is a British Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords as one of the remaining hereditary peers. He is also chief of Clan Sinclair. The Earl was educated at Marlborough College and Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.
Lord Caithness served as a House of Lords government whip under Margaret Thatcher from 1984 to 1985. He then moved to the Department of Transport as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, serving until 1986 when he became a Minister of State at the Home Office. In 1988 he was once again moved, this time to be Minister of State at the Department of Environment. In 1989, he became Paymaster-General.
In 1990, Lord Caithness was again shuffled to the Foreign Office as a Minister of State, and then in 1992 back to the Department of Transport. He married Diana Caroline Coke (1953–1994) in 1975. In January 1994, Lord Caithness resigned from the Government following the suicide of his wife, Diana Countess of Caithness, who according to the BBC "shot herself in despair at his relationship with another woman."[1] In 2004, he married Leila C. Jenkins; he filed for divorce a year later.
With the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999, Lord Caithness, along with most other hereditary peers, lost his automatic right to sit in the House of Lords. He was however elected as one of the 90 representative peers to remain in the House of Lords under the provisions of the Act.
He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1990. He is the Chief Executive of the Clan Sinclair Trust. He is an opponent of fractional-reserve banking.[2]
In 2009 the Earl said "...I do not believe there is an obligation towards the clan in any formal sense. For many years I took no interest in the Clan because I was too busy earning a living and bringing up the family...If a chief can give the time, particularly to the Diaspora, then there are huge rewards for everyone and I would hope that most chiefs can do that." [3]
in 2010 the Earl was not punished for by offering to show American tourists around the House of Lords for a fee. The chief of the Clan Sinclair was advertised on the internet as the host for a £7,588 UK trip, including a tour of Westminster and the chance to meet "various colleagues" including the Speaker. The House of Lords Commissioner for Standards Paul Kernaghan said the Earl had clearly breached the rules on use of Westminster facilities but he had apologised and promised not to do it again. [4] [5] [6] [7]
References
- ^ "The Major Scandal Sheet". BBC News. 27 October 1998. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
- ^ Hansard archives
- ^ Chief to Chief - Malcolm Sinclair, The Earl of Caithness Jamie Sempill 07/15/2009 10:17 AM [1]
- ^ The Conduct of the Earl of Caithness - Privileges Committee Contents July 19,2010 www.parliament.uk [2]
- ^ "The Tory Earl, the $10,000 parliamentary tours and the outraged Lords and MSPs" TheHerald, Scotland May 23, 2010 [3]
- ^ "Castle-Hopping through Northern Scotland. Hosted by the Earl of Caithness, 11 Days. [4]accessdate=2010-07-26
- ^ "Highland earl broke House of Lords rules" Press and Journal July 22, 2010 [5]