 He was one of the youngest peers, and did not join a political party but sat as a crossbencher.On 11 November 1999, he was among the bulk of peers who lost all political power on the removal of all but 92 from the Lords with the House of Lords Act 1999.On 27 October 2001, the nobleman married interior designer Clare Hazell, at St Andrew's and St Patrick's, Elveden, Suffolk.