Quick Facts
Biography
Sir Timothy Hugh Francis Raison (3 November 1929 – 3 November 2011) was a British Conservative politician.
Education
Raison was educated, through being a scholarship boy, at two independent schools: at The Dragon School in Oxford, where he became Head of School. From there he got a scholarship to Eton College near Windsor in Berkshire. Thence to Christ Church at the University of Oxford, to which he also attained a Scholarship.
Career
Raison began his career as a journalist, first working on Picture Post (of which his father, Max Raison, was managing editor), then New Scientist. Whilst at New Scientist he also edited Crossbow, journal of the Bow Group (a left of centre group within the Conservative Party). In 1960 he received The Nansen Refugee Award, which is given annually by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees. He edited the social science magazine New Society from 1962 until 1968 and was MP for Aylesbury from 1970 until his retirement in 1992. He served as a junior Education and Science Minister (1973–1974), a Home Office minister (1979–1983), and Minister for Overseas Development (1983–1986).