Green party

Tim Beaumont

Lord Beaumont will be enormously missed by the Party. He was a pioneering spirit in green politics, and a passionate defender of human rights and civil liberties.

In 1967, Lord Beaumont was created a life peer for the then Liberal Party as Baron Beaumont of Whitley, of Child's Hill in Greater London. Although initially chair of the Liberal Party in 1967-8 and President 1969-70, in 1999 he joined the Green Party, citing his opposition to the Liberal Democrats' support for ever-increasing global free trade.

As a Green Party peer, Lord Beaumont drove forward campaigns opposing biofuels, promoting food security and supporting indigenous farmers. He was a champion for freedom of information and highlighted Government deception when measuring carbon emissions from housing. As recently as March this year, he was promoting renewable energy as part of the Government's Energy Bill.

Lord Beaumont campaigned passionately for the Green Party and, in November 2006, said of the Greens:

"Such a vision offers greater community and personal satisfaction: a world where conviviality replaces consumption, where local identity replaces global trade, and where community spirit replaces brand loyalty."

Principal Speaker Caroline Lucas MEP said:

"Lord Beaumont will be enormously missed by the Party. He was a pioneering spirit in green politics, and a passionate defender of human rights and civil liberties. He worked tirelessly to put sustainable development higher up the political agenda and, in particular, to promote sustainable energy."