Brian Griffiths, Baron Griffiths of Fforestfach

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The Right Honourable

The Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach
Brian Griffiths, c1973.jpg
Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit
In office
1985–1990
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byJohn Redwood
Succeeded bySarah Hogg
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
5 February 1991
Life peerage
Personal details
Born (1941-12-27) 27 December 1941 (age 79)
NationalityBritish
EducationDynevor School, Swansea
London School of Economics
OccupationPolitician, banker

Brian Griffiths, Baron Griffiths of Fforestfach (born 27 December 1941), is a British Conservative politician.

Early life[]

Brian Griffiths was born on 27 December 1941. He was educated Dynevor School, Swansea, and the London School of Economics.

Career[]

Griffiths became Professor of Banking and International Finance at City University in 1977.[1] In 1986, while Dean of the Business School, he resigned his chair to become Margaret Thatcher's chief policy adviser.[2] He remained Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit for the remainder of Thatcher's term as Prime Minister.

He was created a life peer as Baron Griffiths, of Fforestfach in the County of West Glamorgan on 5 February 1991.[3]

Griffiths has written and lectured on the relationship of the Christian faith to politics and business.[4] He taught at Regent College on biblical economics in 1979,[5] and wrote The Creation of Wealth: A Christian's Case for Capitalism in 1984. He has been influenced in this area by Rousas J. Rushdoony.[6] Griffiths is a fellow of Sarum College and delivered the 2011 Niblett Memorial Lecture there on "A Christian Reflection on the Financial Crisis".[7]

Griffiths was Chairman of the Centre for Policy Studies from 1991 to 2001. He served on the Board of Directors of the Conservative Christian Fellowship from 2000 to 2002. He was a member of the European Union Sub-Committee F (Social Affairs, Education and Home Affairs) from 1999 to 2003 and the Religious Offences Committee from 2002 to 2003. He is a vice-president of the Nature in Art Trust.[8]

He serves as vice-chairman of Goldman Sachs International. He said he was "not ashamed" of the bank's compensation plans. He also said the issue of banking compensation should not be thought about solely from a short-term perspective. He defended the bank's bonuses, Griffiths said the general public should "tolerate the inequality as a way to achieve greater prosperity for all", saying also that "we should not ... be ashamed of offering compensation in an internationally competitive market which ensures the bank businesses here and employs British people".[9]

In August 2019 Griffiths was criminally charged with defrauding the Malaysian government for his alleged role in the 1MDB scandal.[10] If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ Aitken, Jonathan (2013). Margaret Thatcher: Power and Personality. p. 308.
  2. ^ "A history of City University London".
  3. ^ "No. 52444". The London Gazette. 8 February 1991. p. 2061.
  4. ^ "Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach". Princeton University Faith & Work Initiative Princeton University Faith & Work Initiative. Princeton University. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  5. ^ Gribben, Crawford (2021). Survival and Resistance in Evangelical America: Christian Reconstruction in the Pacific Northwest. Oxford University Press. p. 72.
  6. ^ Rushdoony, Mark R. "Rousas John Rushdoony: A Brief History, Part VII "He's on the Lord's Side"". Chalcedon Foundation. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  7. ^ "A Christian Reflection on the Financial Crisis: Transcript from 2011 Niblett Lecture". Sarum College. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Nature in Art - Trust". Nature in Art Trust. Archived from the original on 9 May 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  9. ^ James Quinn and James Hall, "Goldman Sachs vice-chairman says: 'Learn to tolerate inequality'", The Telegraph, 21 October 2009.
  10. ^ "Malaysia charges Goldman Sachs executives over 1MDB scandal". Financial Times. 9 August 2019.
  11. ^ "1MDB: AGC files additional charges against 17 individuals". Bernama. 9 August 2019.

Arms[]

Coat of arms of Brian Griffiths, Baron Griffiths of Fforestfach hide
Adopted
2007
Coronet
Coronet of a Baron
Crest
Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Vert a Bear sejant erect Gules holding in the dexter forepaw a Leek proper
Escutcheon
Paly of four Vert and Argent per fess enhanced indented of two points upwards each point double barbed throughout issuing in base a pile double barbed throughout all counterchanged
Supporters
On either side statant upon a Stack of two closed Books Vert garnished Or a Male Gryphon reguardant Gules beaked forelegged and rayed Or
Motto
OFN YR ARGLWYDD Y DYW DOETHINEB
Symbolism
Green and white are the ancient Welsh livery colours. The paly formation is arranged to suggest spruce clad mountains and hence an allusion to Fforestfach which means 'fair forest'. Further puns are provided by the bear for Brian and the gryphons for Griffiths.

External links[]

Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by
The Lord Palumbo 		Gentlemen
Baron Griffiths of Fforestfach 		Followed by
The Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale
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