Lord Astor of Hever DL
Biography
Lord Astor was appointed Under Secretary of State and the Lords Spokesman on Defence in 2003. He is a Conservative member of the House of Lords.
Education
Lord Astor was educated at Eton.
Political career
In 1994 Lord Astor was a British parliamentary observer in Johannesburg during the South African general election. He was a member of the Executive Association of Conservative Peers from 1996 to 1998.
From 1998 to 2001, he served as Opposition Spokesman on Social Security and for a further 2 years as Health Spokesman. He also served as Opposition Spokesman for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and International Development from 2001, and from 2003 as Defence Spokesman.
He was elected an hereditary peer in 1999.
Career outside politics
Lord Astor served in The Life Guards from 1965 to 1970. He was Honorary Colonel of 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment from 2005 to 2010. He worked in France for 11 years and is patron of the Conservatives in Paris.
He is also president of The Life Guards Regimental Council, the Douglas Haig Fellowship, the Durand Group, which restores First World War tunnels and trenches, and a trustee of the Astor of Hever Trust.
Personal life
Lord Astor is a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent. He is married with a son and 4 daughters and has a farm in Kent.