Tony Newton - Definition and Overview

Tony Newton, Baron Newton of Braintree, PC (born August 29, 1937), is a British Conservative politician and former Cabinet member. He was member of Parliament for Braintree, until his deafeat in the 1997 general election, and now sits in the House of Lords.

He became MP for Braintree in 1974, and was a government whip in 1979. In 1982 he moved to a junior ministerial position at the Department of Health and Social Security, where he remained until 1988.

He became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and a minister at the DTI for a year, and then became Secretary of State for Social Security from 1989 to 1992, then Leader of the House of Commons until 1997. After he lost his seat he was created a life peer.