Strathclyde steps down as Tory leader in Lords Lord Hill of Oareford has become the new Tory leader in the House of Lords after the unexpected resignation on Monday of Lord Strathclyde, who has led the party in the upper chamber for the past 15 years. The news came as a surprise on a day when the coalition was supposed to be focusing entirely on its mid-term review, an attempt to convince the public that the Tories and Liberal Democrats still have a common programme for government. Lord Strathclyde told Prime Minister David Cameron over the new year that he wanted to step down and the cabinet was informed on Monday morning. The 52-year old peer, who is already wealthy, wants to pursue a second career in business. His spokesman said that there was "nothing lurking behind the announcement," adding the decision was completely straightforward. His successor, Lord Hill - also 52 - is a former executive of Bell Pottinger, the lobbying firm, who entered the government as a junior education minister in 2010 after the coalition was formed. Lord Hill made headlines last summer when he tried to resign, only for Mr Cameron not to notice. Lord Strathclyde had been a whip under Margaret Thatcher 25 years ago and has remained on the Tory front bench ever since, serving six party leaders including three prime ministers. His roles have included being a minister for business, tourism, the environment, Scotland and consumer affairs. He became leader in the Lords after his predecessor, Lord Cranborne, was sacked by William Hague in 1998 for secretly negotiating with Tony Blair over Lords reform. A spokesman for Lord Strathclyde said that he felt his biggest job had been completed after the collapse of proposed reforms to the House of Lords in the summer. Those changes had been advocated mainly by the Lib Dems, arousing deep hostility from within the Tory ranks. "It's time for a fresh pair of eyes now," the spokesman said. In 2009 Lord Strathclyde severed his links with Trafigura, the oil trader, after a scandal over waste dumping in Africa. The peer had been non-executive director on the board of Galena Asset Management, Trafigura's hedge fund arm. According to the Lords" register of interests, he is a Lloyd's member and has shares in Auchendrane Estates, which manages and owns farmland, forestry and properties in Scotland.