Nicholas Soames

Arthur Nicholas Winston Soames, Baron Soames of Fletching, was born on 12 February 1948 in Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom. He is a member of the British aristocracy and political lineage, being the grandson of Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. His parents were Sir Christopher Soames and Dame Mary (née Spencer-Churchill) Soames. The family connections include lineage to Lady Baden-Powell, the wife of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout movement.

Soames attended St. Aubyns Preparatory School in Sussex and subsequently Eton College for secondary education. He further studied at the Mons Officer Cadet School and was commissioned into the 11th Hussars on 5 August 1967 with a Short Service Commission. His military service included deployments in West Germany and Britain. He was transferred to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers on 9 March 1970 and resigned his commission on 5 August 1975.

In 1970, Soames was appointed as an equerry to Charles, Prince of Wales, a position he held for several years and maintained a close association with the royal family. During this period, he publicly commented on the estranged relationship between Prince Charles and Princess Diana and expressed views criticizing accounts of infidelity involving the Prince of Wales, attributing Diana's accusations to her mental health.

Transitioning from military service, Soames entered the financial sector, working as a stockbroker beginning in 1972. He served as a personal assistant to Sir James Goldsmith and later to U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield. From 1979 to 1981, he worked as an assistant director at the Sedgwick Group. His initial attempts at parliamentary office included candidacy for Central Dunbartonshire in 1979, where he was defeated by Labour's Hugh McCartney.

He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Crawley in the 1983 general election. He served as the representative for that constituency until its abolition in 1997. Subsequently, he was elected as the MP for Mid Sussex in the 1997 general election, a seat he held until 2019. His parliamentary roles included a tenure as Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 1992 to 1994, and as Minister of State for the Armed Forces at the Ministry of Defence from 1994 to 1997 during Prime Minister John Major's government. From 2003 to 2005, he served as the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence.

His parliamentary interests encompassed defense, international relations, rural affairs, and industry. He participated in debates and committees relating to the Hunting Act 2004, which he opposed. He also co-chaired the Cross-Party Group on Balanced Migration and promoted policies related to migration management and national identity cards.

Soames was known for his opposition to Brexit before the 2016 referendum, expressing a position aligned with a "One Nation Tory" approach and criticizing some Brexit advocates. In April 2019, he condemned the United States' recognition of Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights, characterizing it as a violation of international law. That year, he endorsed Rory Stewart in the Conservative leadership election.

In events of parliamentary discipline, Soames was involved in a notable episode on 3 September 2019, when he and other MPs voted against the Conservative government on a motion related to Brexit, leading to the loss and later restoration of the Conservative whip; he chose not to stand for re-election in the 2019 general election. The whip was restored to him on 29 October 2019.

Throughout his career, Soames has been subject to allegations of sexist remarks in Parliament, which he has publicly dismissed. In 2017, he apologized for making 'woofing' noises during a parliamentary question session, claiming it as a friendly gesture.

Beyond his parliamentary activities, Soames was a chairman of Aegis Defence Services, a private security company engaged in securing military bases and other facilities. The company was acquired by GardaWorld in 2015, and Soames serves on its International Advisory Board. His association with private military and security enterprises has included employment of Sierra Leonean personnel, raising concerns and allegations regarding employment practices.

Additional affiliations include his role in the media and commentary on international issues, including calls for the UK to recognize Palestine and to cease arms sales to Israel amid conflicts. His personal connections extend to his brother, Rupert Soames, an industrialist, and his sister Emma Soames, a journalist.