An interview with Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC Patron of SRP

Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC is the first Patron of SRP and accepted the role in 2016 . Born in Wales in 1948 , he was educated at Epsom College . He studied Law at King ' s College London and was called to the Bar by Gray ' s Inn in 1970 , becoming a QC in 1984 , at the age of 36 . From 1983 – 97 he was the Liberal ( then Liberal Democrat ) MP for Montgomeryshire in Mid Wales and was the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats from 1992-7 . Appointed a Life Peer in 1999 , he was awarded the CBE in 2012 for services to national security . He was the President of The Security Institute until 2016 .

SRP ' s Director of Engagement , Jennifer Humphries , speaks with Lord Carlile about his decision to become SRP Patron and the importance of SRP raising its profile .

Can you explain the role of a patron of a professional society ? A patron stands for the society and takes up issues and represents the society to outside bodies . Within the House of Lords , patrons normally support in an area where they are not an expert , so there is no conflict of interest . One of the reasons I took up the invitation to represent SRP was that it was one of the least well-known distinguished professional bodies and I could add a public face to its intellectual brilliance .

How does this role benefit SRP ? As a member of the House of Lords , I have

Lord Carlile at his first SRP Annual Dinner addressing the Society in 2017 in Aberdeen .

the opportunity to ask questions and express SRP ' s view within Parliament , to draw attention of members ( including ministers ) to SRP ' s issues . SRP is less well-known to politicians than , say , the General Medical Council or The Law Society .

What do you bring to the role of Patron of SRP ? As a member of the House of Lords and a senior lawyer I bring a public face to SRP , but I also run a business which focuses on security , as well as having been a reviewer of terrorism legislation for a significant period . Therefore , there are strategic priorities of SRP members which relate to my involvement in national security issues .

How have you found supporting SRP for the last five years ? Interesting – you have high quality members and so many supremely qualified people . It ' s frustrating that SRP isn ' t more extrovert in its activities and more people don ' t know about its work . This is improving , but you are a small organisation and growth is needed to allow you to move into a place where you could have specialist communication people to help support , if a radiation event were to occur .

Has anything surprised you about the Society ? The quality of the dancing of the members was better than expected ! Seriously , I welcome the conceptional breadth of

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