Michael Portillo Biography
A charismatic and engaging keynote speaker, Michael Portillo has made the successful move from politics to TV & journalism, as well as being the UK's favourite single mum!
Background and career
Michael Portillo was born in North London in 1953. His father, Luis, had come to Britain as a refugee at the end of the Spanish Civil War, and his mother, Cora, was from Fife. She met Luis while she was an undergraduate at Oxford.
Portillo studied at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he gained a first class degree in History.
Portillo left Cambridge in 1975, and for a year worked for a shipping company. He moved to the Conservative Research Department in 1976, where he spent three years. At the General Election in 1979 he was responsible for briefing Margaret Thatcher before her press conferences. For the next two years he was special adviser to the Secretary of State for Energy.
He worked for Kerr McGee Oil (UK) Ltd from 1981 - 1983. He contested the Birmingham Perry Bar seat at the 1983 Election.
Portillo won the 1984 by-election in Enfield Southgate, caused by the murder of Sir Anthony Berry MP in the Brighton bombing. He represented the seat for thirteen years but was defeated in the 1997 Election.
He joined the Government in 1986, and remained a member until 1997. He was a whip, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Social Security, Minister of State for Transport, Minister of State for Local Government and Inner Cities; and as a Cabinet Minister was Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary of State for Employment, and Secretary of State for Defence. He was admitted to the Privy Council in 1992.
After his 1997 electoral defeat, Portillo returned to Kerr McGee as an adviser. He also turned to journalism. He wrote about walking as a pilgrim on the Santiago Way, and working as a hospital porter. He had a weekly column in The Scotsman. He had a three part series for Channel 4 about politics, Portillo’s Progress, and a programme in BBC2’s Great Railway Journeys series, which was partly a biography of his late father, and radio programmes on Wagner and the Spanish Civil War.
He has made a number of television programmes for BBC2 including Art that shook the world: Richard Wagner’s Ring, Portillo in Euroland, Elizabeth I in the series Great Britons and When Michael Portillo became a single mum.
Portillo was re-elected to Parliament in a by-election in Kensington and Chelsea in November 1999 and was Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer February 2000 - September 2001.
Following the Conservatives’ election defeat in 2001, Portillo contested the leadership of the party. He was unsuccessful, and decided to return to the backbenches. In 2005, Portillo retired from politics.
Portillo is a member of the International Commission on Missing Persons in the former Yugoslavia (which organises the identification of massacre victims) under the chairmanship of Jim Kimsey, and a member of the Board of BAE Systems plc.
Speaking Topics
A charismatic and engaging keynote speaker, Michael Portillo has made the successful move from politics to TV & journalism, as well as being the UK's favourite single mum!
- Business
- Finance & Economics
- Politics
For further information or to book Michael Portillo, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Michael Portillo Video
Michael Portillo Speaker Showreel - Click play to watch a short sample video clip of Michael Portillo. For more information on Michael Portillo please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Michael Portillo News
A selection of relevant news related to Michael Portillo, After Dinner Speakers, Awards Hosts & Presenter and Keynote Speakers, Finance & Economics and Political Speakers stories. For more information on Michael Portillo or details as to how to book Michael Portillo for your corporate event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Benedict Allen at Cheltenham Literary Festival
4th October 2011
Benedict Allen, adventurer, author and corporate speaker, announces the release of his new book, Into The Abyss, at the Cheltenham Literary Festival.
Speakers Corner’s Finest Confirmed for Cheltenham Literary Festival
12th July 2011
Speakers Corner is proud to announce a rich catalogue of its finest artists confirmed to attend The Cheltenham Literary Festival - one of the UKs best loved book festivals.
A Third of Women Take on the Role of Breadwinner
20th July 2010
As a survey announces the rise of women’s involvement in domestic financial affairs, speakers such as entrepreneur Kanya King MBE and scientist Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE are also becoming increasingly popular. However, is there more to the figures than initially meets the eye?
Journalist, broadcaster and conference speaker, Michael Portillo presents 'Great British Railway Journeys' on BBC2
4th January 2010
Journalist, broadcaster, author and conference speaker, the former MP and Minister presents a new travel series on BBC Two, starting this week called 'Great British Railway Journeys'.
Norman Lamont is busier than ever on the After Dinner Speaking circuit
25th February 2009
According to The Observer, the recession isn't all gloom. Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont is enjoying an increasing number of bookings as an after-dinner speaker. And at Speakers Corner, we can confirm that enquiries and booking for speeches on the economy and finance have substantially risen over recent months....
Michael Portillo Goes Wild in Spain
19th March 2006
Ex-MP Michael Portillo takes us on his quest to find the rich wildlife of his father's homeland.
Noreena Hertz Finishes New Book
4th April 2013
Keynote speaker and leading futurist, Noreena Hertz has finished her most recent book, which will be published in the US and the UK in September 2013.
George Osborne Announces Plans for Budget 2013
21st March 2013
The budget 2013 was unveiled in the House of Commons among a crowd of rowdy members of Parliament, where the Chancellor stated that, "we are, slowly but surely, fixing our country's economic problems".
Anatole Kaletsky Joins Reuters
1st March 2013
Award winning journalist, economist and keynote speaker, Anatole Kaletsky, has joined Reuters after 22 years writing for The Times.
Roger Martin Speaking at World Economic Forum
16th January 2013
Roger Martin is due to speak at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, along with Joseph Stiglitz and Tim Berners-Lee.
Michael Portillo Reviews
Michael Portillo has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Michael Portillo for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Michael Portillo for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Michael took care to establish what the charity required of him and time to circulate on the evening.
Very flexible, very professional, superb content, relaxed performance. The delegates - even those who didn't share his political views - were very impressed
Particularly impressed by the effort and energy that he moved/worked the room - everyone said that they spoke with Michael P! Speech was greatand very good value as he went the extra yard.
He took the effort to intorduce himself to people at the Ball prior to speaking and appeared to understand his audience well. He was both humourous and quite inspiring.
We appreciated Michael's call to the CIOB Chief Executive beforehand.
Michael was a fine speaker and we have had nothing but positive fdeedback. People appreciated him circulating amongst the tables. Thanks for helping make the weeken dsuch a success!
We thought Michael pitched it just right and was very good at holding guests' attentoin. The question and answer session at the end was particularly effective and I think everyone got a lot out of it. Feedback has been universally positive.
Michael delivered to our brief fully, combining a well structured presentation with humour which was very well received by our clients. I would have no hesitation in asking mIchael back!
Very engaging and thought provoking session. Michael made a point of speaking with all attendees which was most welcome.
Michael was brilliant and we were very impressed. The speech was great and he took the time to speak to everybody in the room throughout the afternoon - fab!!
Michael did not disappoint, he was courteous and open to all he met and his ability to work the room made everyone feel included in his speech - which was pitched perfectly with the right balance of humour and insight. Thank you.
We were particularly impressed by Michael effort and energy. He mixed and worked the entire room everyone said that they had spoken to him! His speech was great and very good value for money as he went that extra yard.
Michael Portillo was an excellent choice as keynote speaker at our Annual Conference. He was very flexible and professional, the content was superb and he delivered a brilliant and relaxed performance. The delegates even those who didnt share his political views were impressed.
For further information or to book Michael Portillo, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
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