Tony Kerpel MBE
Graduate in Sociology, Bath University of Technology (later University of Bath) 1964-1968
“I have no doubt that my time at the University of Bath had a huge influence on the public service and public policy direction of my professional life.”
— Tony Kerpel MBE
- President of the University Students’ Union, 1968-69
- National Chairman of the Young Conservatives 1975-1976
- Camden councillor for 12 years
- Special adviser to Kenneth Baker 1986-1992 when he was Environment, Education, Home Secretary and Conservative Party Chairman
- Adviser to President de Klerk in South Africa in 1993-1994 during transition to black majority rule.
In 1969, my student union experience and degree subjects got me the posts of press spokesman at the Department of Education and Science and a subsequent transfer to the Home Office, where I specialised on the prison side.
Working with both Labour and Tory ministers I loved the insider aspect of Whitehall but jumped ship in 1972 when offered a dream job as one of the five film examiners at the British Board of Film Censors, a pleasure which lasted 14 years. Once again my degree dissertation on mass communications and my student involvement in running the film society had a direct bearing on my career.
Now freed from civil service constraints, I decided to enter politics, beginning a 20 year involvement at local and national level. During this whole time I was grateful for having studied social psychology!
Looking back at nearly 40 years since my student days I have no doubt that my time at the University of Bath had a huge influence on the public service and public policy direction of my professional life.
