Alan Duncan

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Alan Duncan : biography

31 March 1957 –

Wikileaks 2010

According to The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, American spies drew up a dossier on Duncan, compiling details of his relationships with leading Conservatives, including William Hague. The cable called for further intelligence on "Duncan’s relationship with Conservative party leader David Cameron and William Hague", and asked: "What role would Duncan play if the Conservatives form a government? What are Duncan’s political ambitions?"

Oil price

Oil prices could surge to as much as $250 a barrel if terrorists attack oil tankers and reserves in Libya and the Middle East, Duncan, a former oil trader, told The Times. Oil prices of $200 a barrel are “on the cards” if anyone is “reckless and foments unrest,” Duncan was quoted as saying by the newspaper. He is regarded as one of the leading experts on the Middle East in UK politics.

Libyan oil cell

In August 2011, it was reported that Duncan had played an instrumental role in blocking fuel supplies to Triploli, Libya, during the Libyan conflict. In April 2011, the former oil trader convinced the UK prime minister to establish the so-called ‘Libyan oil cell’ which was run out of the Foreign Office.

The cell advised Nato to blockade the port of Zawiya to stifle Gaddafi’s war effort. They also helped identify other passages the smugglers were using to get fuel into Libya via Tunisia and Algeria.

London-based oil traders were encouraged to sell fuel to rebels in Benghazi, with communication being established between traders and the rebels to route the fuel.

One Whitehall source commented: ‘The energy noose tightened around Tripoli’s neck. It was much more effective and easier to repair than bombs. It is like taking the key of the car away. You can’t move. The great thing is you can switch it all back on again if Gaddafi goes. It is not the same as if you have bombed the whole city to bits.’

Education

Alan Duncan was educated at two independent schools: Beechwood Park School in Markyate, and Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood, at both of which he was ‘Head Monitor’ (head boy). Whilst coming from a Liberal family, and running (and losing) as a Liberal at a school mock election in 1970, Duncan joined the Young Conservatives in 1972. Alan Duncan had two brothers, who also attended Beechwood Park School, Robin and Kevin. Robin was also Head Boy.

Duncan then attended St John’s College at the University of Oxford, where he coxed the college first eight, and was elected President of the Oxford Union in 1979. Whilst there, he formed a friendship with Benazir Bhutto, and ran her successful campaign to become the President of the Oxford Union. He then went on to win a Kennedy Scholarship to study at Harvard University between 1981 and 1982.

Early life

Duncan was born in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, the son of J.G. Duncan OBE, an RAF wing commander, and his wife Anne Duncan (née Carter), a teacher. The family travelled much, following Alan’s father on NATO postings, including in Gibraltar, Italy, and Norway.

Political views

Duncan is described as a ‘moderniser’ in the Conservative Party. Duncan is a libertarian. The Guardian has variously described him as ‘economically libertarian’ and ‘socially libertarian’. He has been described as the ‘liberal, urbane face of the Conservative Party’. He is a moderniser within the Conservative Party.

One of the chapters in his book Saturn’s Children is devoted to an explanation of his support for the legalisation of all drugs. However this chapter was removed when the paperback edition was published to prevent embarrassment to the Party leadership. The omitted chapter was available on Duncan’s personal website; however, as of 2011 it no longer appears. He believes in minimising the size of government, and in Saturn’s Children advocated limiting government responsibility to essential services such as defence, policing and health. He has been described as a "staunch" Eurosceptic.