Alice Miranda Rothschild

Zac Goldsmith
Zac Goldsmith
Born	January 20, 1975 (age 51); Chelsea, London, England
Occupation(s)	Politician, journalist
Years active	1997–present
Known for	Minister of State for Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Climate and Environment; Conservative MP for Richmond Park; 2016 London mayoral candidate

Frank Zacharias Robin Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith of Richmond Park, born on 20 January 1975, is a British politician, life peer, and journalist. He held the position of Minister of State for Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Climate and Environment between September 2022 and June 2023. Representing the Conservative Party, he was their candidate in the 2016 London mayoral race and served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond Park during two periods: from 2010 to 2016 and again from 2017 to 2019. Recognized for his liberal and libertarian stances, Goldsmith places significant emphasis on environmentalism and local governance.

Born in London to billionaire entrepreneur Sir James Goldsmith, he received his education at Eton College followed by the Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies. In 1998, his uncle Edward Goldsmith appointed him editor of The Ecologist, a post he maintained until 2007. By 2005, Goldsmith had become Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Quality of Life Policy Group and co-authored its report released in 2007. After being chosen through an open primary in 2007, he contested the Richmond Park seat against Liberal Democrat Susan Kramer and secured victory in the 2010 general election with a majority of 4,091 votes.

During the 2015 general election, Goldsmith expanded his majority substantially to 23,015 votes. He stood as the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London in 2016 but was defeated by Labour’s Sadiq Khan. Following the government’s endorsement of Heathrow Airport’s third runway in October 2016, Goldsmith resigned his MP seat and ran as an independent in the subsequent by-election; however, he lost to Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney. The Conservatives reselected him for Richmond Park in the 2017 general election where he narrowly reclaimed the seat with a margin of just 45 votes.

In July 2019, Goldsmith was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and International Development and received a promotion to Minister of State with Cabinet attendance rights by September that year. He lost his parliamentary seat once more to Olney in the 2019 general election by a margin of 7,766 votes. Shortly thereafter, Boris Johnson granted him a life peerage, enabling Goldsmith to join the House of Lords while maintaining his ministerial responsibilities. His portfolio expanded in February 2020 to include oversight of the Pacific region. Throughout the tenures of Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, he held ministerial posts involving Asia, energy, climate issues, overseas territories, and Commonwealth affairs. He resigned from his ministerial role in June 2023, citing dissatisfaction with government environmental policies.

Early life and career

Goldsmith entered the world on 20 January 1975 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in Chelsea, London. He is the middle offspring of Sir James Goldsmith—a member of the Goldsmith family with German Jewish and French roots—and Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart, who comes from Anglo-Irish aristocracy. Goldsmith has expressed that he was brought up with a strong Jewish identity. His upbringing took place at Ormeley Lodge in Ham alongside siblings Jemima and Ben; additionally, he is half-brother to Robin and India Jane Birley from his mother’s previous marriage. During childhood, naturalist Gerald Durrell was a significant influence on him, sparking an interest further fueled by David Attenborough’s wildlife documentaries. His environmental passion grew deeper after his father gave him Helena Norberg-Hodge’s book Ancient Futures.

His education spanned four private institutions: King's House School in Richmond, The Mall School in Twickenham, Hawtreys School near Great Bedwyn, and Eton College. Although expelled from Eton due to drugs being discovered in his room, he later achieved four A-Levels at Cambridge Centre for Sixth-Form Studies.

Goldsmith participated in global travels via the International Honours Programme sponsored by his uncle Edward Goldsmith; this included visits to Thailand, New Zealand, Mexico, Hungary, and Italy. He spent two years residing in California where he initially worked for the think tank Redefining Progress (1995–96) before becoming a researcher at Norberg-Hodge’s International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC) from 1996 until 1998. During this period, he spent several months in India studying indigenous cultures while managing an educational tourism initiative.

In 1997, Goldsmith took on the role of reviews editor at The Ecologist, a publication founded by his uncle Edward Goldsmith. By 1998 he had advanced to editor-in-chief and director without receiving any salary. In 2000 he transformed the magazine’s format from an academic journal into a current affairs publication which resulted in tripling its readership. He resigned as editor in January 2006 when he shifted focus toward reviewing environmental policies within the Conservative Party.

Affiliation with the Conservative Party: 2005–2010

Goldsmith became a member of the Conservative Party in 2005, having actively supported the campaigns of Michael Gove and Joanne Cash. He perceived Labour as "the party of big business," heavily influenced by lobbying interests and excessively centrist in its policies. Following the Conservative defeat in 2005, David Cameron assumed leadership, whom Goldsmith viewed favorably despite widespread skepticism toward politicians. At that year's Conservative conference, he highlighted that environmental concerns were fully compatible with Conservative principles.

In December 2005, Cameron appointed Goldsmith as deputy chairman of the Quality of Life Policy Group, chaired by former Environment Secretary John Gummer. The group concentrated on issues such as carbon emissions, climate change, air quality, and transportation to inform Conservative policy development. Their comprehensive 600-page report released in 2007 recommended halting airport expansion; imposing taxes on short-distance flights and high-polluting vehicles to fund cleaner alternatives; and offering tax incentives for home energy efficiency upgrades. Although the report faced criticism from Labour, some Conservatives, and aviation stakeholders, it played a significant role in Cameron’s strategy to shift the party’s image away from the "Nasty Party" label and influenced the party manifesto.

In May 2006, Cameron included Goldsmith on the Conservative A-List of prospective candidates for the 2010 election. Originally selected for the secure East Hampshire seat, Goldsmith withdrew due to insufficient local connections to avoid accusations of carpetbagging. Instead, he secured selection through an open primary conducted by the Richmond Park Conservative Association in March 2007.

During 2007, Goldsmith led opposition against Sainsbury's proposal to build a superstore in Barnes by organizing a local referendum where 85% voted against the development. Despite this resistance, Sainsbury’s proceeded with opening after modifying their plans.

In 2008, scrutiny emerged regarding £7,000 in donations made while Goldsmith was temporarily off the electoral register amid constituency relocation. He affirmed that all contributions had been properly declared and indicated any donations received during that interval could be reimbursed.

Towards late 2009, media reports revealed Goldsmith held non-domiciled status connected to trusts established by his late father. He refuted claims of tax avoidance, confirming his UK tax residency and that his income was deposited into British bank accounts. By early 2009, he voluntarily renounced his non-dom status. Critics argued this status allowed him to avoid substantial taxes; Goldsmith later admitted that non-dom status permitted certain lifestyle-related tax decisions but denied any impropriety.

In 2010, when the Labour government introduced parking charges in Richmond Park aimed at recovering maintenance costs for public car parks, Goldsmith organized a protest rally attended by over 1,000 people alongside local Conservatives opposing these fees.

Parliamentary tenure: 2010–2015

At the 2010 general election, Goldsmith unseated Liberal Democrat incumbent Susan Kramer in Richmond Park with a swing of 7%. This election resulted in a hung parliament and led to a coalition government dominated by Conservatives. In the subsequent 2015 election, he expanded his majority significantly from 4,091 to 23,015 votes and increased his vote share by 8.5% to reach 58.2%, marking the largest majority gain for any MP that year.

In July 2010, Channel 4 News questioned Goldsmith’s campaign expenditure, alleging underreporting of costs related to signage and jackets. Goldsmith denied any misconduct, asserting that his spending complied with guidelines from Conservative Central Office. A contentious exchange followed with presenter Jon Snow; both parties criticized each other’s conduct. Ofcom later dismissed Goldsmith’s complaint about the broadcast. The Electoral Commission escalated its probe to a "case under review," ultimately finding no evidence of deliberate violations but noting some unclear declarations and possible overspending amounting to £966.

Goldsmith spearheaded a cross-party initiative advocating for an inquiry into child sex abuse similar to the Hillsborough investigation. He co-authored a letter addressed to Home Secretary Theresa May demanding an independent investigation. Despite initial reluctance from Prime Minister David Cameron’s administration, increased parliamentary pressure led to government agreement.

In December 2015, Goldsmith endorsed government proposals to intensify aerial bombardment against Islamic State targets and supported legislation aimed at limiting trade union strike powers.

London mayoral campaign

Although initially deciding against running in the 2016 London mayoral race, Goldsmith later became the leading Conservative contender. In June 2015, after conducting a self-funded postal ballot among his Richmond Park constituents, he officially launched his campaign and won the Conservative open primary by a significant margin.

His platform strongly opposed the expansion of Heathrow Airport, committing to resign as an MP if the project proceeded. He criticized the Airports Commission report that supported expansion, accusing its author of partiality. To address London's housing crisis, Goldsmith promoted the development of high-density, low-rise housing on publicly owned land and encouraged foreign investment to fund construction, while excluding Green Belt development in the short term. Additionally, he proposed enlarging the London congestion charge zone and supported Boris Johnson’s Garden Bridge initiative.

Goldsmith enlisted Lynton Crosby’s consultancy for his campaign and highlighted connections between Labour’s candidate Sadiq Khan and Jeremy Corbyn, branding Khan as “radical and divisive.” The campaign drew accusations from Labour and others of employing dog-whistle tactics and Islamophobia; Goldsmith rejected allegations of racism and accused Khan of exploiting racial issues. Labour emphasized Goldsmith’s limited political track record and work history.

Ultimately, Goldsmith was defeated by Khan with a margin exceeding 315,000 votes in the second round. Labour MP David Lammy later criticized Goldsmith’s campaign for fostering division by linking Khan to Islamist extremism.

By-election and political return: 2016–2019

In 2012, Goldsmith had vowed not to represent the Conservatives if Heathrow expansion received approval. Following government endorsement of the project, he resigned his Richmond Park seat in December 2016 to prompt a by-election, running as an independent with UKIP’s support; neither UKIP nor the Conservatives contested the seat. He narrowly lost to Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney.

Goldsmith was reselected as the Conservative candidate for Richmond Park in April 2017 and narrowly reclaimed the seat during the snap general election by a margin of just 45 votes. After Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in July 2019, Goldsmith was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DEFRA and DFID; following Amber Rudd’s resignation in September 2019, he was elevated to Minister of State with Cabinet attendance privileges and was sworn into the Privy Council. He was ranked 98th on LBC’s list of 'Top 100 Most Influential Conservatives of 2019.'

Despite a nationwide surge in Conservative votes during the December 2019 general election, Goldsmith lost Richmond Park again to Sarah Olney. Subsequently, he received a life peerage enabling him to continue ministerial duties within the House of Lords.

House of Lords: 2020–present

Created Baron Goldsmith of Richmond Park in January 2020, his peerage appointment attracted criticism from the Muslim Council of Britain and opposition figures who labeled it cronyism due to his previous objections to House of Lords appointments. Labour MP Kerry McCarthy expressed support for his ongoing environmental advocacy.

In his inaugural speech in the Lords, Goldsmith denied allegations of cronyism and reaffirmed his dedication to environmental issues.

During Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit cabinet reshuffle in February 2020, he took on an additional role as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with a focus on Pacific affairs. In June 2020, DFID merged with the Foreign Office to form the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

That same month, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards found that Goldsmith breached conduct rules by using publicly funded stationery for political campaigning ahead of the 2019 election; he accepted this ruling and reimbursed £8,954.

Appointed Minister of State for Asia, Energy, Climate and Environment by Liz Truss in September 2022, he was reappointed by Rishi Sunak with expanded duties covering overseas territories and Commonwealth relations.

On 30 June 2023, Goldsmith resigned from ministerial office citing governmental "apathy" towards environmental concerns under Sunak’s administration. His resignation followed allegations by a Commons committee accusing him of involvement in coordinated efforts to interfere with an inquiry into Boris Johnson; opposition parties called for his dismissal. Sunak stated that Goldsmith refused to issue a public apology; however, Goldsmith asserted his willingness to apologize but maintained that stepping down was long overdue.

Political positions and views

The Guardian characterized Goldsmith as a socially liberal-libertarian figure, highlighting his robust environmental advocacy, particularly his opposition to the Heathrow expansion project. Journalist Dave Hill emphasized Goldsmith’s localist and conservationist approach, which champions small enterprises and community interests over intrusive governmental control.

Goldsmith has been a prominent speaker on environmental issues at Oxford Union debates and contributed an essay to We Are One: A Celebration of Tribal Peoples, where he explored the richness of global cultural diversity and challenged conventional Western ideas of progress.

He supports enhancing direct democracy through referendums inspired by the Swiss model and endorses recall mechanisms allowing constituents to petition for the removal of MPs.

A steadfast Eurosceptic since 2013, Goldsmith consistently opposed EU membership votes in Parliament and advocated maintaining the option of a no-deal Brexit as of March 2019.

Education remains a significant focus for him; he promotes initiatives where school kitchens serve dual purposes as classrooms teaching about food origins, cooking skills, and sustainable sourcing practices.

In the aftermath of the 2017 Barcelona attacks, Goldsmith posted contentious social media content linking ISIS antisemitism with ideologies attributed to Labour’s Momentum faction.

Fundraising

Goldsmith financed the Organic Targets Bill Campaign in 1999, which aimed to promote organic farming practices. He holds advisory roles on boards such as the JMG Foundation, which allocates environmental grants derived from James Goldsmith’s estate. Additionally, he acts as an ambassador for the National Gardens Scheme Council of Trustees and serves as a patron for conservation groups including the Mihai Eminescu Trust in Transylvania and the Fortune Forum philanthropic organization.

He has been a long-term supporter of the Soil Association and actively engaged in their conferences advocating organic agriculture.

Family and personal life

Known for his calm demeanor and measured speech, Goldsmith inherited an estimated £200–300 million from his father James Goldsmith’s £1.2 billion estate following his death in 1997. During his tenure in Parliament (2010–15), he ranked among its wealthiest members. He is passionate about gambling, holding stakes in bookmakers such as Fitzdares and participating in backgammon, poker tournaments, and cricket.

Goldsmith married Sheherazade Bentley in June 1999; they had three children before separating in 2009 and finalizing their divorce in 2010. The pair was once listed among Vanity Fair’s Best-Dressed Couples.

In 2013, he wed banking heiress Alice Miranda Rothschild; they have three children born between 2013 and 2017. Alice is linked to prominent Rothschild and Guinness family lines; her sister Kate Rothschild was previously married to Goldsmith’s brother Ben until their 2013 divorce. Zac and Alice publicly announced their separation in March 2023.

In March 2024, Goldsmith received a one-year driving ban following seven speeding violations committed during 2023; he was fined £5,500 plus additional surcharges. The sentencing judge highlighted that speeding contributes to increased emissions even when driving hybrid or electric vehicles, underscoring environmental concerns consistent with Goldsmith’s public profile.

He currently lives with his family in Barnes, London.

Awards

Recipient of the Beacon Prize for Young Philanthropist of the Year (2003) in recognition of environmental efforts
Honored with the Global Green Award for International Environmental Leadership (2004)
Named Joint BusinessGreen Politician of the Year (2011)
Awarded Best Conservative Newcomer MP by the Patchwork Foundation (2014)
Bestowed the Order of the Etoile Équatoriale by Gabon (2022) for leadership in international environmental initiatives
Conferred the Order of Boyacá (Grand Cross) from Colombia (2022), the highest accolade for foreign nationals acknowledging environmental leadership

Ancestry

Belonging to the influential Goldsmith lineage with significant political heritage: his paternal grandfather, Frank Goldsmith, served as a Conservative MP; his maternal grandfather, Robin Vane-Tempest-Stewart, held office as a Unionist MP; his maternal great-grandfather, Charles Stewart Henry Vane-Tempest-Stewart, was an Ulster Unionist politician; and among his ancestors was Robert Viscount Castlereagh, who acted as Chief Secretary for Ireland and British Foreign Secretary.

His sister Jemima was married to Imran Khan, who served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, from 1995 until their divorce in 2004.

Bibliography

Gummer, John; Goldsmith, Zac (September 2007). Blueprint for a Green Economy – Submission to the Shadow Cabinet. Conservative Quality of Life Policy Group.

Sources

External links

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