Debate - Tuesday 14th July 2009

Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering, the Rt Hon Malcolm Rifkind QC MP, the Rt Hon Michael Howard QC MP

Ambassador Thomas Pickering served as US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 1997-2000. In a diplomatic career spanning five decades, in which he held the personal rank of Career Ambassador, the highest in the US Foreign Service, he served as US ambassador to the Russian Federation, India, Israel, El Salvador, Nigeria, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. From 1989 to 1992, he served as Ambassador and Representative to the United Nations in New York. He also served as Executive Secretary of the Department of State and Special Assistant to Secretaries William P Rogers and Henry A Kissinger from 1973-1974. Ambassador Pickering entered on active duty in the US Navy from 1956-1959, and later served in the Naval Reserve to the grade of Lieutenant Commander. From 1959-1961, he served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the State Department, in the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. After retiring from the State Department in 2000, he joined the Boeing Company as Senior Vice President, International Relations and member of the Executive Council, where he was responsible for the company's relations with foreign governments and the globalization of Boeing. He retired in July 2006 and joined Hills & Company as their Vice Chairman in December 2006. In 1983 and in 1986, Ambassador Pickering won the Distinguished Presidential Award and, in 1996, the Department of State's highest award - the Distinguished Service Award. He is a member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies and the Council on Foreign Relations. Michael Howard was elected Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe in 1983. In 1990 he entered the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Employment. Following the 1992 election, he was appointed Secretary of State for the Environment. In May 1993 he became Home Secretary, a position he held for four years. Following the 1997 Election, Michael Howard was appointed Shadow Foreign Secretary until his retirement from the Front Bench in June 1999. In September 2001, under the Leadership of Iain Duncan Smith, he was invited to return to the front bench as Shadow Chancellor where he remained in post until November 2003. He was then elected as Leader of the Conservative Party, a position he held for over two years. He led the Party at the 2005 General Election, the first election in 22 years in which the Party gained a significant number of seats. The day after the election Michael Howard announced his decision to stand down as Leader of the Party; and, following the election of David Cameron on December 6th, handed over the leadership to him. Michael Howard continues to represent Folkestone and Hythe at Westminster, but will be stepping down at the next election.

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