John Harris, Baron Harris of Greenwich

John Henry Harris, Baron Harris of Greenwich, (5 April 1930 – 11 April 2001) was an English journalist, political aide and politician. After serving as a local councillor and political advisor and aide to a number of Labour politicians including Roy Jenkins, he was created a life peer in order to become Minister of State for Home Affairs in the Wilson and Callaghan governments between 1974 and 1979. He became a founder member of the Social Democrats, becoming the Liberal Democrats Chief Whip in the House of Lords between 1994 and 2001.

Early life Harris was born on 5 April 1930 in Pinner, Middlesex, to Alfred George Harris and his wife, May. He was educated at Pinner County Grammar School before working as a journalist and completing National Service with the Directorate of Army Legal Services.

Political career He became assistant editor of Forward, a left-wing weekly newspaper, when it was brought to London in 1957, which was the start of his career in politics. and was appointed Minister of State for Home Affairs under Jenkins during the latter's second spell as Home Secretary.

Harris was a leading member of the 'Yes' campaign for the 1975 referendum on whether Britain should remain a member of the European Communities, and was joint chairman of the publicity committee. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1998.

He held a number of other positions, including: trustee and chairman of UK's policing think tank, The Police Foundation, which he founded in 1979; President of the National Association of Senior Probation Officers (1983–1992); Paying tribute in the House of Lords, Lord Henley said that "he always behaved with integrity" and that when they were in agreement on an issue he could "always rely on his robustness in argument and on the iron discipline with which he marshalled his troops". Jenkins followed, saying: