Is Michael Portillo Living or Dead?

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Is British politician turned television personality (born 1953) Michael Portillo dead? Or ... still alive?

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By Android Grove

Updated 18 March 2023

Image info

Artist	Geof Sheppard
Credit	Own work
License	cc-by-sa-4.0
Desc	Michael Portillo filming for another of his Great Railway Journeys at Taunton.
Usage	Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0

Image info/credit

British politician turned television personality (born 1953)

Michael Portillo is ...

Alive

Born	26 May 1953 in Bushey
Age	70 years, 1 months

Sex or gender	male
Country of citizenship	United Kingdom
Father	Luis Gabriel Portillo
Mother	Cora
Occupation	politician, journalist and broadcaster
Position held	Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary of State for Defence, Secretary of State for Employment, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Member of the 53rd Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 52nd Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 51st Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 50th Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 49th Parliament of the United Kingdom, non-executive director and Booker Prize judge
Significant event	apology to the House of Commons
Educated at	Peterhouse and Harrow High School

About Michael Portillo

Michael Portillo: From Politics to Television Stardom

Michael Portillo, born on May 26, 1953, in Bushey, Hertfordshire, is a British politician, journalist, and television personality. He began his political career in the Conservative Party in the 1980s and served as a Member of Parliament for over a decade. However, after losing his seat in the 1997 general election, Portillo reinvented himself as a media personality, hosting various television programs and documentaries.

Portillo's political career began in 1984 when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Conservative Party and held several ministerial positions, including Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State for Employment. However, his political career came to an abrupt end in 1997 when he lost his seat to a Labour candidate in a shock defeat.

After leaving politics, Portillo turned to the media and became a regular commentator on political issues. He also began hosting various television programs, including the BBC's "Great British Railway Journeys" and "Great Continental Railway Journeys," which explored the history and culture of different regions through train travel. He also presented the BBC's "This Week" program, which discussed current affairs and politics.

Portillo's media career has been highly successful, and he has won several awards for his work, including a BAFTA for his documentary "Death of a Schoolfriend." He has also written several books, including his memoir "The Long Walk to Finchley," which was adapted into a television drama.

Despite his success in the media, Portillo has remained involved in politics and has been a vocal critic of the Conservative Party's direction under Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He has also been a strong advocate for the United Kingdom's membership in the European Union.

In conclusion, Michael Portillo's journey from politics to television stardom has been a remarkable one. He has successfully reinvented himself as a media personality and has become a respected commentator on political issues. His career has been marked by his passion for travel, history, and politics, and he continues to be a prominent figure in British public life.

References:

- "Michael Portillo." BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2vJjJmQyJfjJjW7L6zvQ6Jm/michael-portillo.

- "Michael Port