Alan John Watson, Baron Watson of Richmond (born 3 February 1941) is a UK-based broadcaster, Liberal Democrat politician and leadership communications consultant. Early life and education Lord Watson of Richmond is the son of the Rev. John William Watson and Edna Mary Peters. He was educated at the Diocesan College, Cape Town in South Africa and Kingswood School in Bath. He was an Open Scholar in history at Jesus College, Cambridge 1959, a State Scholar 1959 and was awarded an MA in 1963. He was the Vice-President of the Cambridge Union. Watson's German-born wife Karen is an artist: they have two sons, Stephen and Martin. Career Broadcasting Watson joined the BBC after graduating from Cambridge University in 1963, and later became a regular presenter for The Money Programme on BBC Two and Panorama on BBC One. He also reported on London Weekend Television, Radio 4 and the BBC World Service, and wrote and presented award-winning documentaries over many years. He was one of the studio contributors to the BBC's June 1970 Election Night television programme. He is a Fellow and Former Chairman of the Royal Television Society. From 1976 to 1980 he was responsible for media at the European Commission. Politics In politics, Watson's notable role was as President of the Liberal Party. He was appointed CBE in 1985 and, on 23 July 1999 was elevated to the House of Lords with a Life Peerage as Baron Watson of Richmond, of Richmond in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. He is a member of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union. He stood for election four times: as the Liberal candidate for Richmond in the general elections of October 1974 and 1979, and as the Liberal candidate (SDP-Liberal Alliance) for Richmond and Barnes in the general elections of 1983 and 1987. On all four occasions, he came in second place, losing to the Conservatives. Outside of the United Kingdom, Lord Watson is Chair of the Albanian British Chamber of Commerce and is a Member of the European Parliament's High Level Group on Romania. His political interests are the "worldwide use of English, EU enlargement and transatlantic relationship". Leadership communications Lord Watson was Chairman of CTN Communications until retirement, a creative communications agency based on St Martin's Lane in central London. He advises the leaders of major UK and international companies on their communications, with clients including