206:
response, the academy's director of corporate development said the companies had financed the academy's development and provided office space. The payments – including for consultancy fees, IT advice and legal services – led to fears that the
Department of Education was not monitoring the schools' accounts closely enough. Shadow Schools Minister
273:. In the House of Lords debate on gay marriage on 3 June 2013, Lord Edmiston opposed gay marriage on the grounds that it could lead to other forms of marriage. He said: "If there is no possibility of genetic offspring or indeed no requirement for consummation, why should not close relatives get married?" .
205:
By 2014, the 3 schools had paid "more than £1m" to companies owned by
Edmiston, academy trustees or their relatives. A company belonging to Edmiston's brother-in-law, Gary Spicer received over £367k for consultancy work over 6 years whilst the charities established by Edmiston received over £170k. In
189:
In 2007, it was announced that Grace
Academy, Solihull had awarded contracts worth £281,000 over 2 years to the IM Group for payroll and other "management services" without going to competitive tender. The school also donated £53,000 over a 2-year period to Christian Vision. In response, Edmiston
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said it was "deeply concerning that so much taxpayer money is ending up in the pockets of academy chain directors and trustees" and that the
Government urgently needed to prioritise protection of public money over the rate of expansion.
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Edmiston became a millionaire through his companies IM Group, a car importer, and IM Properties. In 1974 he was finance director at sports car manufacturer
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claimed that the school had no capability to pay wages and that he had transferred a member of
Christian Vision to manage the project at cost price. The
171:). On 25 August 2011 both were removed as charities. He is chair of the governors for all three academies. Edminston paid £2m to sponsor each academy.
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education spokesperson, said that the absence of tendering was worrying and "Lack of proper regulation will leave loopholes for the unscrupulous."
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A Demi-Lion guardant Or, grasping in the dexter fore-claw a rolled Scroll Argent, and in the sinister a
Trumpet Gules.
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cars. He later branched out into property and vehicle finance. IM Group is now managed by his son, Andrew
Edmiston.
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558:"The return of Section 28: Schools and academies practising homophobic policy that was outlawed under Tony Blair"
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The academies follow a
Christian ethos. On 20 August 2013, the academies were among schools named by
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Through two other charities, Edmiston is the sponsor of three secondary schools within the
English
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Telegraph: "Police wanted to talk to 80 people in peers inquiry but many refused, reveals donor"
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Argent, a Pall Sable, between three Blades of Grass wavy in pale, each with two stipules Vert.
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refused to say why it had waived its "strict" rules requiring 3 competitive tenders but
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Edmiston is an
Evangelical Christian and has made large donations to the charity,
91:, who has established a number of religious and educational charities, including
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also opposed his appointment as a peer, because of a tax dispute with IM Group.
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as adopting policies similar in wording to the repealed anti-gay legislation
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708:"New Members of the Lords announced - News from Parliament - UK Parliament"
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242:" scandal and was blocked by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
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On 19 November 2010 it was announced that Edmiston was to be created a
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591:"Revealed: taxpayer-funded academies paying millions to private firms"
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617:"Academies paying millions to businesses linked to their directors"
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Rob Evans, Richard Cookson and Matthew Taylor (5 March 2007).
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227:, a Conservative Party political campaigning organization.
750:"Retired members of the House of Lords - UK Parliament"
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Grace Academy, Solihull, registered charity no. 1103029
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Grace Academy, Coventry, registered charity no. 1117366
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reported that he was on a list of proposed new working
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Peers retired under the House of Lords Reform Act 2014
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businessman and motor trade entrepreneur based in the
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The Times: Sleaze row as election donors get peerages
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238:; however, his nomination was overtaken by the "
652:BBC: West Midlands: MIC names behind the cash...
436:Christian Vision, registered charity no. 1031031
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514:"Alarm over academy deals linked to sponsor"
276:On 22 July 2015, Edmiston retired from the
261:, with the title (created 14 January 2011)
805:Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
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771:I M Group about us entry for Lord Edmiston
416:"Lord Edmiston in £60m payday at IM Group"
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104:in 2021, Edmiston is worth £897 million.
492:Charity Commission for England and Wales
467:Charity Commission for England and Wales
442:Charity Commission for England and Wales
391:"IM Group unveils new £30m headquarters"
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219:Edmiston has also been a backer of the
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686:"Latest peerages announced - GOV.UK"
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688:. Number10.gov.uk. 19 November 2010
83:(born 6 October 1946) is a British
903:Life peers created by Elizabeth II
888:Conservative Party (UK) life peers
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710:. Parliament.uk. 19 November 2010
365:"The Sunday Times Rich List 2021"
615:Hayley Dixon (13 January 2014).
293:Coat of arms of Robert Edmiston
738:. 19 January 2011. p. 777.
589:Rajeev Syal (12 January 2013).
556:Nigel Morris (20 August 2013).
389:Jones, Tamlyn (24 July 2019).
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341:DILIGENCE CHARITY INTEGRITY
225:Midlands Industrial Council
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791:Christian Vision website
169:Grace Academy, Darlaston
136:, which he established.
66:Motor trade entrepreneur
878:English philanthropists
543:6 December 2009 at the
280:. He "semi-retired" to
165:Grace Academy, Solihull
161:Grace Academy, Coventry
145:Solihull, West Midlands
873:English businesspeople
271:County of Warwickshire
101:Sunday Times Rich List
37:Robert Norman Edmiston
128:Charitable activities
893:English evangelicals
863:British billionaires
835:The Lord Framlingham
139:In 1988, he founded
23:The Right Honourable
595:Guardian newspapers
518:Guardian newspapers
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108:Business activities
735:The London Gazette
420:www.thetimes.co.uk
369:www.thetimes.co.uk
304:Coronet of a Baron
244:The Inland Revenue
221:Conservative Party
178:newspaper and the
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374:17 November
328:a Lion Or.
198:, the then
159:programme (
85:billionaire
55:Nationality
847:Categories
600:13 January
523:12 January
400:30 January
351:References
320:Supporters
314:Escutcheon
184:Section 28
63:Occupation
43:1946-10-06
821:Gentlemen
796:Interview
331:Sinister:
284:in 2016.
251:Life Peer
232:The Times
786:IM Group
541:Archived
282:Portugal
267:Lapworth
230:In 2005
215:Politics
567:5 April
325:Dexter:
300:Coronet
269:in the
257:in the
157:academy
58:British
167:, and
118:Subaru
756:7 May
714:7 May
692:7 May
337:Motto
308:Crest
265:, of
236:peers
122:Isuzu
758:2017
716:2017
694:2017
628:2014
602:2013
569:2015
525:2014
402:2024
376:2021
288:Arms
192:DfES
120:and
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