Brooke, Peter Leonard (1934– )

British Conservative politician, a member of Parliament from 1977. Appointed chair of the Conservative Party by Margaret Thatcher in 1987, he was Northern Ireland secretary 1989–92 and national heritage secretary 1992–94.

As Northern Ireland secretary, he aroused criticism (and praise) for observing that at some future time negotiations with the IRA might take place. In 1991 his efforts to institute all-party and all-Ireland talks on reconciliation proved abortive but he continued to be held in high regard on both sides of the border.

Brooke was born in London, educated at Oxford University, and worked as a management consultant in New York and Brussels. The son of a former home secretary, Lord Brooke of Cumnor, he became an MP in 1977 and entered Thatcher's government in 1979. Following a number of junior appointments, he succeeded Norman Tebbit as chair of the Conservative Party in 1987. As national heritage secretary, he argued for regulatory measures to protect against invasions of privacy by the press.