Brian Cotter, Baron Cotter
- November 14, 2023
- 87 years
About Brian Cotter, Baron Cotter
Brian Cotter, Baron Cotter, 87, British politician, MP (1997–2005) and member of the House of Lords (since 2006), complications from dementia.
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Full Biography
|Brian Joseph Michael Cotter, Baron Cotter (24 August 1936 – 14 November 2023), was a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was Member of Parliament for Weston-super-Mare from 1997 to 2005, and subsequently a member of the House of Lords from 2006 until his death.
Background and career
Born in Ealing, the son of a doctor from Weston-super-Mare, Cotter was educated at Saint Benedict's School, Ealing, and Downside School in Somerset, where, aged sixteen, he ran a 4½ minute mile. Upon leaving school, he entered the British Army, serving two years National Service, spending time stationed in West Germany. He entered business after leaving the army. He studied Business Studies at a polytechnic in London, eventually running his own small manufacturing company, Plasticable Ltd in Alton, which is now run as a co-operative.
Formerly a Conservative before joining the Liberals in 1983, during the Liberal/SDP Alliance, Cotter was elected to Woking Borough Council in 1986, representing the Mount Hermon West ward. He retained this seat until standing down in 1990.
Parliamentary career
After unsuccessfully contesting the seat in 1992, Cotter was elected the Liberal Democrat MP Member of Parliament for Weston-super-Mare in 1997. This was the first time the constituency had not returned a Conservative MP since 1923. He was re-elected in 2001, but lost the seat to John Penrose of the Conservatives at the 2005 general election. Throughout his time in Parliament, he served as the Liberal Democrat spokesman for small business.
In April 2006, it was announced that Cotter would be created a life peer to join the Liberal Democrat ranks in the House of Lords, and on 30 May he was created Baron Cotter, of Congresbury in the County of Somerset. He delivered his maiden speech in the Lords on 29 June.[citation needed]
Cotter took an interest in a number of areas, and on various issues as they arose. Specifically, before the coalition government was formed in 2010, he led for the Liberal Democrats on Small Business issues and vocational education; specifically apprenticeships. Within the coalition, he concentrated on business and vocational training issues.
Personal life
Lord Cotter was a practising Roman Catholic. Cotter was a patron of domestic violence charity the ManKind Initiative.
Cotter married Eyleen Patricia Wade in February 1963. They had two sons and a daughter. Lord Cotter died from complications of dementia on 14 November 2023, at the age of 87.
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Articles & News
- news.bbc.co.ukBBC News - Brian Cotter
- telegraph.co.uk"Lord Cotter, Liberal Democrat MP who championed small businesses – obituary"
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Cotter%2C_Baron_Cotter
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Brian Cotter, Baron Cotter's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Brian Cotter born?
- A.14 November 1935
- B.24 August 1937
- C.24 August 1936correct
- D.14 November 1936
Brian Cotter was born on 24 August 1936.
Source: biography header
2.Where was Brian Cotter born?
- A.Weston-super-Mare
- B.Ealingcorrect
- C.Alton
- D.Somerset
Brian Cotter was born in Ealing, the son of a doctor from Weston-super-Mare.
Source: background and career section
3.What school did Brian Cotter attend in Somerset?
- A.Downside Schoolcorrect
- B.Woking School
- C.Alton Academy
- D.Ealing Grammar
Brian Cotter was educated at Saint Benedict's School, Ealing, and Downside School in Somerset.
Source: background and career section
4.In which country was Brian Cotter stationed during his National Service?
- A.West Germanycorrect
- B.Belgium
- C.France
- D.Austria
After leaving school, Brian Cotter entered the British Army for two years of National Service, spending time in West Germany.
Source: background and career section
5.What was the name of the manufacturing company Brian Cotter ran?
- A.Plasticable Ltdcorrect
- B.Woking Works
- C.Somerset Polymers
- D.Weston-super-Manufacturing
Brian Cotter ran his own small manufacturing company called Plasticable Ltd in Alton.
Source: background and career section
6.Which political party was Brian Cotter a member of before joining the Liberals in 1983?
- A.Green Party
- B.Conservativecorrect
- C.Labour
- D.Social Democratic Party
Brian Cotter was formerly a Conservative before joining the Liberals in 1983.
Source: background and career section
7.In what year was Brian Cotter elected to the Woking Borough Council?
- A.1990
- B.1983
- C.1986correct
- D.1992
Brian Cotter was elected to Woking Borough Council in 1986.
Source: background and career section
8.Which constituency did Brian Cotter represent as an MP starting in 1997?
- A.Somerset West
- B.Alton
- C.Woking
- D.Weston-super-Marecorrect
Brian Cotter was elected the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Weston-super-Mare in 1997.
Source: parliamentary career section
9.Who defeated Brian Cotter in the 2005 general election?
- A.A Conservative candidate from 1923
- B.John Penrosecorrect
- C.A Liberal Democrat rival
- D.A Woking Borough Councillor
Brian Cotter lost his seat to John Penrose of the Conservatives at the 2005 general election.
Source: parliamentary career section
10.When was Brian Cotter created Baron Cotter?
- A.30 May 2006correct
- B.29 June 2006
- C.14 November 2006
- D.16 October 2006
On 30 May 2006, Brian Cotter was created Baron Cotter.
Source: parliamentary career section
11.What specific topic did Brian Cotter lead on for the Liberal Democrats before 2010?
- A.Environmental protection
- B.Apprenticeshipscorrect
- C.Healthcare reform
- D.Foreign policy
Before the coalition government was formed in 2010, Brian Cotter led on Small Business issues and vocational education, specifically apprenticeships.
Source: parliamentary career section
12.What religion did Brian Cotter practice?
- A.Anglican
- B.Methodist
- C.Presbyterian
- D.Roman Catholiccorrect
Lord Cotter was a practising Roman Catholic.
Source: personal life section
13.Brian Cotter served as a patron for which charity?
- A.The ManKind Initiativecorrect
- B.Dementia Research UK
- C.Weston-super-Care
- D.British Small Business Charity
Brian Cotter was a patron of the domestic violence charity the ManKind Initiative.
Source: personal life section
14.In what year did Brian Cotter marry Eyleen Patricia Wade?
- A.1983
- B.1986
- C.1997
- D.1963correct
Brian Cotter married Eyleen Patricia Wade in February 1963.
Source: personal life section
15.How many children did Brian Cotter and his wife have?
- A.One son and one daughter
- B.Two daughters and one son
- C.Two sons and one daughtercorrect
- D.Three sons
Brian Cotter and Eyleen Patricia Wade had two sons and a daughter.
Source: personal life section
16.What was the cause of death for Brian Cotter?
- A.Old age
- B.A stroke
- C.Complications of dementiacorrect
- D.A heart condition
Lord Cotter died from complications of dementia on 14 November 2023.
Source: personal life section
People who died on November 14
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