lord goldsmith family
Goldsmith was born on 20 January 1975 at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in Chelsea, London. Mary Alice Jean Goldsmith, 71, of Front Royal, Virginia passed away on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at Winchester Medical Center. "[127], In Boris Johnson's post-Brexit reshuffle, Goldsmith was given the additional role of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for the Pacific. [131], In September 2022, Goldsmith was appointed Minister of State for Asia, Energy, Climate and Environment by Liz Truss. [158] The couple married on 5 June 1999 at St Simon Zelotes Church in London. [162] Their second child, a son named Max, was born in January 2016. [173][174], By-election and political return: 20162019. However, Labour MP and former Shadow Environment Secretary Kerry McCarthy said she believed Goldsmith was committed to the government's promise to maintain standards in environmental regulation after Brexit, adding: "because of that I welcome the fact that he is still around to carry on and do that work". Lord Goldsmith saw it paving the way for a US-style prosecution service in which, instead of Regina, it would be "The people versus " in an echo of Tony Blair's "the People's Princess". [43], In late 2009, the press asserted that Goldsmith had non-domiciled status and that as a London resident, albeit a discretionary beneficiary, he had use of British properties through a trust set up by his late father. The Goldsmith family, originally from Germany, faced the challenges and rewards of being true Jewish pioneers in New Mexico. [93] He also suggested an expansion of the London congestion zone,[94] and endorsed Boris Johnson's plans to construct a Garden Bridge across the River Thames. [44][45] Goldsmith responded, in a statement about the suggestion of tax avoidance, that he has "always chosen to be tax resident in the UK" and virtually all his income was paid into British banks. It did not specify how much the holiday was worth but this is likely to be declared separately in the register of MPs interests. [citation needed], Goldsmith's restrictions prevented him, for 12 months after leaving office, from being personally involved in lobbying government Ministers or officials. Mr Johnson declared last month's holiday in the register of ministers' interests, citing a "longstanding personal friendship with the Goldsmith family" who allowed him to stay in the villa free. Home; About/Support IDS; Subscriptions; Contact IDS; lord goldsmith family [112][113] He lost to Sarah Olney of the Liberal Democrats, who overturned his majority of 23,000. [24] He had previously supported the election campaigns of Michael Gove and Joanne Cash. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. He spoke to government ministers to sound out their feelings, and they all agreed that the final word was for him. However, the two separated in 2012 when Kate started dating rapper Jay Electronica. Before that, he was the Minister for Pacific and the Environment at FCDO and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). "[19], In November 2008, the former Lord Chief Justice and Senior Law Lord Lord Bingham of Cornhill stated that Goldsmith's advice contained "no hard evidence" that Iraq had defied UN resolutions "in a manner justifying resort to force" and that the invasion was "a serious violation of international law and of the rule of law. Goldsmith urged the EU Parliament not to impose sanctions on Pavlov, according to The Sunday Times, though the effort was unsuccessful. She added: His interests have been reviewed by the Cabinet Office and the prime ministers independent adviser on ministerial interests. For two years after leaving office, he was required to stand aside from dealing with any matter about which he had confidential or privileged information acquired while he was Attorney General. The list of ministers' interests says. Minister urges Tory MPs to back PM's climate plan MPs call for inquiry. Two questions remain. He. Having frequented luxurious hotels in his youth, he briefly flirted with the . It is the sort of thing that would have kept him awake at night." Johnson took the holiday during an unusual recess from parliament after party conference season, and No 10 had to defend his decision to go abroad during the energy and supply chain crisis. [75], Goldsmith had initially ruled out standing as a candidate in the 2016 London mayoral election, stating that "I think people have had quite enough of white male Etonians". But the then. [147] He is also on the National Gardens Scheme's Council of Trustees as one of four Ambassadors. Such was the backwash of that decision that Sir Anthony Eden's wife, Clarissa, used to complain she felt as if the Suez Canal was flowing through her drawing room. Some may be hard to see if you are stuck in a negative thought loop. [9], In 2007 he won a High Court injunction against the BBC, preventing reporting of aspects of the New Labour Cash-for-Honours scandal by successfully arguing a broadcast of confidential information would have harmed a police inquiry. Goldsmith was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Quality of Life Policy Group in 2005, co-authoring its report published in 2007. After Amber Rudd's resignation as Work and Pensions Secretary in September 2019, Johnson reshuffled his frontbench and promoted Goldsmith to Minister of State with the right to attend Cabinet. As a sympathetic legal acquaintance puts it: "It is ironic that possibly the most distinguished lawyer to become Attorney General has been the one who has given the most important and dubious piece of advice. [152], Goldsmith has been described as having a "soft voice and unhurried manner". Snow suggested Goldsmith take the matter to OFCOM, which rejected Goldsmith's complaint about Snow and Channel 4 News' conduct. best foods to regain strength after covid; retrograde jupiter in 3rd house; jerry brown linda ronstadt; storm huntley partner [99], Labour accused Goldsmith's campaign of using 'dog-whistle politics' and racist or Islamophobic campaigning. [17][18], In 1997, Goldsmith was appointed reviews editor of The Ecologist by his uncle Edward Goldsmith, the magazine's founding editor, owner and publisher. Ideologically characterised as having liberal and libertarian views, he is known for his support for environmentalism and localism. He was educated at Quarry Bank School before reading law at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and University College London. The couple had two sons and were dubbed Pakistan's very own version of 'Posh and. A place to remember: Ben Goldsmith on creating a garden memorial to his beloved late daughter. Given Lord Goldsmith is a minister of the crown, the arrangement has accordingly been declared.. But it seemed pointless at the time to put up any resistance. Research the Goldsmith family Start your family tree now. He also said that Khan's record was exceptional, especially in relation to environmental issues. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Lord Goldsmith, a long-time environmentalist, was a close ally of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie. ", Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Born in 1950, the son of a Liverpool solicitor, he went to Quarry Bank High School, the same school as John Lennon, and then Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. ", "Zac Goldsmith to speak at Living in a Low Carbon World 2008", "Why Zac Goldsmith's views on Heathrow and Europe are a problem for Cameron", "Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, former MP", "Full list: The Tory MPs that voted to keep no deal on the table", "Safia meets Zac Goldsmith, ecologist and politician", "Tory MP Zac Goldsmith links Barcelona terror attack to Labour's Momentum group", "M&S takes part in organic catwalk against climate change as the Soil Association goes for glamour", "One Planet Agriculture: Preparing for a post-peak oil food and farming future", "Zac Goldsmith: How his non-dom status works", "Tory 'food scraps' minister is richest MP", "Sheherazade Goldsmith The Green Goddess", "Billionaire's scion fights bus driver's son for London mayor", "Zac Goldsmith: 'I was dealt a good hand in life. . Lord Goldsmith served as the UK's Attorney General from 2001-2007, prior to which he was in private practice as one of the leading barristers in London. [121][122] Shortly after his electoral defeat, it was announced he would continue to serve as a minister in the government by being awarded a life peerage and sitting as a member of the House of Lords. [41][42], In 2008 Goldsmith was asked to comment about donations of 7,000 to his Party while not on the electoral register. At the time, No 10 refused to confirm that Goldsmith was covering the cost of the holiday in Marbella or say how the prime minister had travelled to Spain with his family. [135] Journalist Dave Hill noted that the "young Goldsmith was pro-small business and small communities, localist and conservationist" and was "against overbearing government from whatever the source". We are told that the Attorney General was struggling with himself as he returned from the US. [148] He is a Patron of the Mihai Eminescu Trust which conserves and maintains communities in Transylvania and the Maramure,[149] and the philanthropic organization, Fortune Forum (together with Jimmy Wales). In his essay, Goldsmith writes about how his travel around the world in his youth gave him first-hand experience of the misery brought by the promise of western "progress" and "development". The nature of Goldsmith's legal advice to the government over the legality of the 2003 invasion of Iraq was a significant political issue at the time. You can support us for as little as $1 via PayPal at office@jewishbusinessnews.com. He stood as an independent instead of as a Conservative but was endorsed by UKIP who did not stand a candidate. [96] In April 2016, Labour MP Yvette Cooper wrote "What started as a subtle dog-whistle is becoming a full blown racist scream". [22][23], Goldsmith has been appointed head of European Litigation at the London office of US law firm Debevoise & Plimpton. Goldsmith was the longest serving Labour Attorney General. New Cornwall Precinct, Orange County, New York, United States. A clip, which has been viewed 500,000 times, shows . On 22 June 2007, Goldsmith announced his resignation which took effect on 27 June 2007, the same day that Prime Minister Tony Blair, stepped down. where does ron desantis live. Boris Johnson has confirmed he stayed for free at a holiday home owned by the family of Lord Zac Goldsmith - who received a peerage from the PM in 2019. Goldsmith called it a "symbol of injustice", and said that it did not respect the rights of liberty or freedom. lord goldsmith family. He first announced he was in favour of the UK leaving the European Union in 2013[141] and has consistently voted against UK membership of the EU in Parliament. [52][53] The election resulted in a hung parliament and the formation of a coalition government led by Cameron and the Conservatives. [155] He was the second richest member in the 20102015 Parliament after Richard Benyon. Talking about his siblings, he has a brother named Griffin Goldsmith who is the drummer of Dawes. "They cost 2,168 but you only said you paid (spent) 170". Sheherazade and Goldsmith were featured in Vanity Fair's 67th Annual International Best-Dressed List among "Best-Dressed Couples". Minister urges Tory MPs to back PM's climate plan MPs call for inquiry. Too much has happened on his watch for his reputation not to suffer. [7][24] The group was tasked with examining matters such as carbon emissions, climate change, clean air and transport with a view to formulating Conservative policy. 8. r/blues. 142. All Rights Reserved. Follow Lord Goldsmith on Twitter: @ZacGoldsmith, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. [39][27] He then entered the Richmond Park Conservative Association's open primary, which he won in March 2007. Lord (Peter) Goldsmith KC, PC, London Co-Managing Partner and Chair of European and Asian Litigation, joined Debevoise in 2007. [71] He co-wrote a letter to Home Secretary Theresa May demanding a full independent inquiry with six other MPs: Tim Loughton, Tom Watson, Simon Danczuk, John Hemming, Tessa Munt and Caroline Lucas. [163] On 25 April 2017, Alice gave birth to a daughter named Edie. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current . He was chosen as the Conservative candidate for the 2016 election for mayor of London, which he subsequently lost to Sadiq Khan of the Labour Party. [74], "I work very closely with David Cameron on a range of issues. [150] He is a longstanding donor to the Soil Association. Peter Henry Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith PC KC (born 5 January 1950) is a British barrister and a former Attorney General for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland. A: Well, I think that's simple. [21], In July 2017, former Iraqi general Abdulwaheed al-Rabbat launched a private war crimes prosecution, in the High Court in London, asking for Goldsmith, Tony Blair and former foreign secretary Jack Straw to be prosecuted for "the crime of aggression" for their role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. (11-4-17) . Coming from a large Regency family young Charles must have responded warmly to the first-person narrative of the genial clergyman, his social-climbing wife, and their six children. [11][12] Goldsmith later said of the event "Cannabis was found in my room. He called it the. speed set mortar working time of thinset; best choice products jeep parts; zulu social aid and pleasure club posters [142] In March 2019, he was one of 265 Conservative MPs that backed a no-deal Brexit being left on the table. As a Labour Party supporter from an early age, he became president of his college Junior Common Room before taking a First and being called to the Bar. A majority who responded supported him. He is married, with children, and has bought himself a house in France where they go on holiday in the summer. [citation needed] He was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in 1972, practising from Fountain Court Chambers in London. In the course of her testimony to the Iraq Inquiry commission, Wilmshurst, even though she understood that "Goldsmith was put into an impossible position", expressed her disapproval of the way Goldsmith set about in formulating his eventual opinion. [100] Conservative politician Baroness Warsi also criticised Goldsmith for using an image of the bus destroyed in the 7/7 terrorist attacks to illustrate an article he wrote. [161] They have a daughter, Dolly, born in July 2013. In-Depth Studies Blog Equipping the Believer with a Theological Foundation . [19][20][21] In 1998, he became editor-in-chief and director of The Ecologist but did not draw a salary. The Honour was founded by Simon Bolivar and is the highest honour that can be given to a non Colombian national. A successful banking and. Called to the Bar in 1972, Goldsmith was made a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1987. They presented their case online including scans of the spending documents. But equally I know many of those heroic people engaged in the battle to protect this extraordinary planet and the species it holds are cheered by having another voice in Parliament and it is an enormous privilege. He easily weathered the storm over his appointment of a prosecutor, Ken Macdonald QC, who was then revealed to have a 32-year-old conviction for possessing cannabis. His maternal great-grandfather, The 7th Marquess of Londonderry, was an Ulster Unionist politician. Ghousseini H., Beasley H., Lord S. (2015). Mary Alice was born . She tied the knot with her Husband Benjamin James Goldsmith on December 19, 2014, and their wedding ceremony was a Lavish affair that took place in London. "[4] He was raised at Ormeley Lodge in Ham with his siblings, Jemima and Ben. [6] One of his first acts was to discuss breaches of the injunction against publishing the whereabouts of the offenders in the murder of James Bulger. He was the first retiring UK Attorney General ever to join a law firm. About The Goldsmith family (and many others) Please sign in to see more. The High Court ruled that, although the crime of aggression was recognised in international law, it was not an offence under UK law, and, therefore, the prosecution could not proceed. Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer) Private Members' Bill Lords A Bill to amend the Children Act 1989 to state that proceedings under Section 5A of, and Schedule 2 to, the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 are family proceedings This Bill received Royal Assent on 15th March 2019 and was enacted into law. Two years later he donated a hefty sum to Labour Party funds - reportedly to meet Tony Blair at a function, although it may have been sheer luck that he found himself sitting next to the Labour leader at dinner. Two years after the split, Ben married catering company boss Jemima Jones, with whom he has two children, Eliza and Arlo. [76] However, as the election approached, it became apparent that he was the Conservatives' strongest potential candidate. [6], Goldsmith was married for ten years to Sheherazade Ventura-Bentley with whom he has three children: two daughters, Uma Romaine and Thyra, and one son, James. We must suppose that those were the days when Saddam's regime was considered legitimate by Britain and the United States. Anyone who has been on a desert and has seen water on the road in front of them has witnessed an illusion, because on close examination, the water isn't there. Ben is a trustee of the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, one of the world's biggest financiers of the environmentalist movements. He has presided over largely sensible reforms to speed up justice and widen the remit of prosecutors to decide what charges defendants should face. The second question was about jackets with "I back Zac" stickers on the back. One is how he managed to come to the opinion he did. The restrictions are imposed by the prime minister on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, a branch of the Cabinet Office. [128] In June 2020, Johnson announced the Department for International Development would be merged with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to form the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office which was subsequently created in September of that year. Husband of Susannah Goldsmith. [117] He regained the constituency as a Conservative candidate but winning with a majority of just 45 votes, the fifth-slimmest in the election. Goldsmith was made Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and International Development on 27 July 2019 and was promoted to Minister of State with the right to attend Cabinet on 10 September 2019. 25 days ago. [165][166], Goldsmith is a member of the prominent Goldsmith family. He is currently a Partner and head of European litigation practice at US law firm Debevoise & Plimpton[1] and Vice Chairperson of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. Accompanying them were Thomas Theobald, Frank Sr.'s friend, and Alfred Rush, the son of a family friend. [98] Goldsmith's campaign material referred to Khan as "radical and divisive",[96] while comments on the Conservatives' Facebook campaign material often displayed anti-Muslim sentiment. [29], In December 2005, David Cameron approved Goldsmith's appointment as deputy chairman of the Quality of Life Policy Group, under former Environment Secretary John Gummer. Clara Straus Goldsmith was the first Jewish (and possibly the first white) girl born in Denver. Invited to place bids You may not become a millionaire, but there is a lot to learn from George Soros. After the holiday, the Guardian revealed that documents indicated that the luxurious Goldsmith family villa had been held by an opaque offshore structure based in multiple tax havens. [27] Goldsmith felt uneasy about representing this constituency, with which he had no previous connection, and thus pulled out to avoid carpetbagging. [132] He was reappointed by Rishi Sunak with new responsibilities for overseas territories and the Commonwealth. Goldsmith's sister, Jemima was married from 19952004 to Imran Khan, who would go on to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 20182022, with whom she has two sons. The Goldsmith couple separated in April 2009, and received a decree nisi on 10 May 2010. Contact profile manager; View family tree; Sacha Lord to launch foundation to help young people get into hospitality: Sacha Lord, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, is launching a He knows that if there's a policy I don't support, I will stand my ground. Goldsmith's original memo to the prime minister written on 30 January 2003 opined that UN Resolution 1441 did not sanction the use of force and that a further resolution would be required before military action. in Politics An 11-year-old activist has accused environment minister Lord Goldsmith of having "run away" to dodge her questions about the release of jailed climate protesters. Investigating the potential of guided practice with an enactment tool for supporting adaptive performance. [160], Goldsmith married banking heiress Alice Rothschild in 2013 at London Wetland Centre in his constituency. There's no question about that', "Zac Goldsmith's wife Alice gives birth to daughter as Tory prepares for election fight", "BusinessGreen Leaders Awards 2011: Zac Goldsmith ready to fight for a greener politics", "Khan's ouster marks early end to cricket star's turn as Pakistan's premier", "Foreign minister breaks ranks to voice support for ousted Pakistani PM Imran Khan", Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zac_Goldsmith&oldid=1142345231, 27. Where did Taylor Goldsmith live in Los Angeles? Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. His sister, Jemima, is the former wife of . [129][130], On 1 June 2020, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards concluded Goldsmith had breached the standards commission's code of conduct by his use of publicly-funded stationery and postage for political purposes around 1 November 2019, shortly before the 2019 general election. He accepted the commission's finding and agreed to re-pay 8,954.33 to cover the mailing costs. [62][64], The Bureau of Investigative Journalism complained to the Electoral Commission over the report about Goldsmith's expenses. nike nationals track and field backpack; 0 comments. how much does uber freight pay per mile. Very possibly he would have declined that position if he knew what lay in store. 1000s of new photos added daily. "[108], Goldsmith went on to lose the election to Sadiq Khan in the second round by 315,529 votes. [citation needed], The controversy was heightened by the resignation of Elizabeth Wilmshurst, deputy legal adviser at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 20 March 2003. [7][26][27] After the Conservatives lost the 2005 general election to Labour, they elected David Cameron as their new leader. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1426, 1427, 1453, 1472, 1488, 1494, 1481, 1613, 1655, 1613 and 1629 are included under the topic Early Goldsmith History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Lord Goldsmith was a close friend of Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, but now he has been stripped of his brief he will no longer attend Cabinet. [28] Describing Cameron, he said "I don't know David Cameron very well [but] I like him. He was previously Minister for Asia, Energy, Climate and Environment at the FCDO from September to October 2022. Goldsmith was placed on the Conservative A-List of potential candidates in 2006 and, in March 2007, was selected through an open primary to contest the constituency of Richmond Park against incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Susan Kramer. you must love one another; you must love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul; you must love your neighbor as yourself. Minister of State for Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Climate and Environment, Minister of State for the Pacific and the International Environment, Conservative Quality of Life Policy Group, by-election in the Richmond Park constituency, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and International Development, Minister of State for Asia, Energy, Climate and Environment, International Society for Ecology and Culture, Islamophobia in the UK Conservative Party, Jenny Jones, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, upcoming snap general election to be held on 8 June, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, BusinessGreen Politician of the Year Award, https://www.focusgroupemedia.com/discours-integral-du-chef-de-letat-ali-bongo-ondimba-a-la-levee-du-drapeau-du-gabon-au-commonwealth/, https://twitter.com/ivanduque/status/1552674311839834119?lang=en, Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry, Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry, Robin Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 8th Marquess of Londonderry, Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marchioness of Londonderry, List of people with non-domiciled status in the UK, Blueprint for a Green Economy Submission to the Shadow Cabinet, "Zac Goldsmith: the super-rich charmer now flying solo", "These are all the things you didn't know about non-doms and why Labour wants to close their tax loophole", "Zac Goldsmith: I've been the victim of anti-Jewish abuse", "Zac Goldsmith MP on life in west London", "Zac Goldsmith: 5 Facts You Need To Know About Tory London Mayor Candidate", "Who is Zac Goldsmith, Conservative candidate for London mayor in 2016? Booktopia has My Whimsical Quilt Garden, 20 Bird & Flower Blocks to Applique from Piece O' Cake Designs by Becky Goldsmith. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State from July to September 2019. Goldsmith's campaign was later criticised by Labour MP David Lammy for being "divisive" by focusing on attempts to link Khan to Islamist extremists. She said she thought "the process that was followed in this case was lamentable," adding that she believed "there should have been a greater transparency within [the British] government" about the "evolving legal advice." [159] Goldsmith said in 2000 that he wore Savile Row suits which had belonged to his late father. Boris Johnson has admitted receiving a free holiday at a luxurious Spanish villa linked to Zac Goldsmith, the former MP who was given a peerage and job by the prime minister. On Sunday, Goldsmith tweeted that Khan was a "good and honourable man" who was motivated "only by a strong desire to do good by his country". Clara married Sam Bowman, a Jew and newspaperman. Boris Johnson has admitted receiving a free holiday at a luxurious Spanish villa linked to Zac Goldsmith, the former MP who was given a peerage and job by the prime minister. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. [66][67] They reported in December 2010, deciding in "the absence of any evidence of intentional circumvention of the rules, we do not consider that a referral to the police is appropriate. [136] Goldsmith has spoken and written about environmental causes in Britain and has twice been invited to debate at the Oxford Union, where he has delivered keynote addresses. Or they may have witnessed an entire city just a few miles ahead of them, and after traveling those few miles, there is no . Father of Benjamin Goldsmith; Richard Goldsmith, Jr.; Susannah Wisner; Susannah Neely; Abigail Goldsmith and 1 other. everleigh rose smith soutas; when to prune winter blooming camellias This button displays the currently selected search type. [90] He went against prevailing opinion in London by welcoming foreign investment into the property market,[91] arguing that this investment could help to finance more house building. [97] Both the Conservative campaign and several Conservative-aligned newspapers sought to tar Khan as an apologist for, or even sympathiser with, Islamic extremism. Find Graham Lord stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. [145], Goldsmith funded the Organic Targets Bill Campaign to promote organic farming in 1999. These represent miscarriages of justice he has done nothing to overturn. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. [citation needed], In August 2008, Goldsmith was appointed as an independent non-executive director of the Australian property trust, Westfield Group. [32] The report drew criticism from Labour, several Conservative politicians and the aviation industry. [73] He also endorsed a government bill that would have restricted trade unions in their ability to strike. [25][40][27], In 2007, Goldsmith opposed the opening of a superstore by supermarket chain Sainsbury's in Barnes. Lord Goldsmith told the Chilcot inquiry he had originally warned Mr Blair military action against Saddam Hussein's regime would be illegal without United Nations' authority. He achieved an increase of 8.5 percent of the share of the vote from the 2010 general election, receiving a total of 58.2 percent of all votes cast by his constituents. Most barristers rate him as "clever" (always the first word), ambitious and suavely impressive.