Former chairman of BMI airlines to become Conservative peer

21.11.2010   (This is Nottingham)

The former  chairman of airline BMI was yesterday appointed to the House of Lords.

Michael Bishop CBE, a long-standing member of the Conservative Party, is to become
a Tory peer.

Sir Michael sold the Castle Donington-based (East Midlands) airline to Lufthansa
in 2009 for £220m.

He took control of the airline in 1978 after a management buy-out.

In 1986 he was awarded the CBE, before being knighted in 1991.

He has also chaired Channel 4 television and set up the Michael Bishop Foundation
which he launched to support charities and the arts.

Sir Michael was head of BMI when one of its flights crashed on the M1 at Kegworth,
killing 47 people, on January 8 1989.

He was on the scene shortly afterwards and has since said he went against advice
in giving compensation to affected families.

He is one of 53 new peers set to take their place in the House of Lords.

Other Tory peers include former BBC and ITV chairman Michael Grade and Oscar-winning
writer Julian Fellowes.

New Labour peers include broadcaster Dame Joan Bakewell and former MP Oona King.
New Lib Dem peers include ex-MP Susan Kramer.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/chairman-BMI-airlines-Conservative-peer/article-2917870-detail/article.htm