Shore, Peter David, 1924-2001, Baron Shore of Stepney, politician

Peter Shore (1924-2001) was born in Great Yarmouth, the son of a commercial sea captain. He attended Quarry Bank Grammar School, Liverpool and King's College, Cambridge, where he studied History; he served in the RAF as a flying officer from 1943-1946. In 1948 he joined the Labour Party and was employed in the Research Department, producing the tract 'Industry and Society' (1957), and becoming its head from 1959-1964. Shore stood for St Ives, Cornwall, in 1950 and Halifax in 1959 before being elected for Stepney in 1964. He retained the seat, which became Bethnal Green and Stepney, until 1997. He was Harold Wilson's private paliamentary secretary from 1965-1966, then beoming joint parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Technology (Tony Benn) from 1966-1967 and at the Department of Economic Affairs in 1967. He joined the Cabinet in 1967 upon his appointment as Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1967-1969). When the Department for Economic Affairs was dissolved in 1969 Shore remained in the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio and Deputy Leader of the House (1969-1970). While the Labour Party was in opposition Shore became opposition spokesman on Europe (1971-1974) and with the Labour Party's return to power he was Secretary of State for Trade (1974 - 1976) and Secretary of State for the Environment (1976-1979). During the Labour Party's period in opposition from 1979-1987 Shore services as opposition spokesman on foreign affairs, Treasury and Economic Affairs and Trade and Industry as well as being Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. He was a member of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs (1987-1997) and the Committee on Standards in Public Life (1994-2001). He was created Baron Shore of Stepney in 1997.