(Leonard) Robert Carr (1916-2012), following a career in the metal industries, was elected as the Conservative MP for Mitcham in the 1950 General Election. He held the Mitcham seat until 1974 when he became the MP for Carshalton. He served as Private Parliamentary Secretary to Sir Anthony Eden from November 1951 until December 1955. In 1964 he was appointed Secretary of State for Technical Co-Operation in the Conservative government of Sir Alec Douglas-Home. During the Conservative Opposition of Edward Heath, Carr served as Shadow Minister for Overseas Development, 1964-5, Shadow Minister for Aviation, 1965-7 and as Shadow Secretary for Employment and Productivity, 1967-70. Whilst shadowing employment, Carr played a leading role in the formation of Conservative opposition policy, most notably in regard to the proposed introduction of new industrial relations legislation. With the Conservative victory in the 1970 General Election, Carr was appointed Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and was responsible for the passage of the 1971 Industrial Relations Act through Parliament. In April 1972 he was appointed Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons. In July 1972 he was appointed Home Secretary, an office he combined with that of Lord President of the Council until October 1972. After the defeat of the Heath government by Harold Wilson’s Labour Party in the General Election of February 1974 (and again in October 1974), Carr was appointed Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. In February 1975, following the election of Margaret Thatcher as Conservative leader, Carr left the Opposition front benches. In January 1976 he was created a life peer. From 1976 to 1983, Carr served as a member of the political honours scrutiny committee.