The Earl of Minto | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2023 | |
Minister of State for Defence | |
In office 14 November 2023 – 5 July 2024 | |
Prime Minister | Rishi Sunak |
Preceded by | The Baroness Goldie |
Succeeded by | The Lord Coaker |
Minister of State for Regulatory Reform | |
In office 27 March 2023 – 13 November 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Rishi Sunak |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | The Lord Johnson of Lainston |
Member of the House of Lords | |
as an elected hereditary peer 25 October 2022 | |
By-election | 19 October 2022 |
Preceded by | The 3rd Baron Colwyn |
Personal details | |
Born | 1 December 1953 |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse |
Diana Barbara Trafford
(m. 1983) |
Children | 4 |
Parents |
|
Gilbert Timothy George Lariston Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 7th Earl of Minto (/kɪˈnɪnmənd/;[1] born 1 December 1953), styled Viscount Melgund between 1975 and 2005, is a British hereditary peer, businessman, and Conservative member of the House of Lords. He was previously the chief executive of British stationery company Paperchase.[2]
He is the son of the late Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 6th Earl of Minto and his first wife, Lady Caroline Child Villiers. The Earl resides in England, but has continuing links with Scotland, as his parents did.
He succeeded his father in the earldom on 7 September 2005. His father's estate has been the subject of a dispute between the Earl and his father's third wife.[3]
On 30 July 1983, he married Diana Barbara Trafford, daughter of Brian and Audrey (née Taylor) Trafford.[4][5] They have two sons and one daughter; a third son is deceased.
The Earl became a member of the House of Lords in October 2022, having finished second in a by-election to replace both the Viscount Ullswater and the Baron Colwyn.[6]
On 27 March 2023, the Earl was appointed Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade and served in that role until 14 November 2023 when he was appointed Minister of State for Defence.[7]