Susan Cunliffe Lister was married to David Cunliffe-Lister in 1970. They were one of the few couples who held notable titles in their own right. They adopted two children, Claire and Jessie.
David was a British peer and politician. He succeeded as the 2nd Earl of Swinton on the death of his grandfather in 1972 and served as deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords under Margaret Thatcher from 1982 to 1986.
He was also the government spokesman on agriculture and education from 1983 to 1986. He left the House of Lords following the House of Lords Act, of 1999.
Lord Swinton was a member of the North Riding of Yorkshire County Council from 1961-1974, and of its successor, North Yorkshire County Council, from 1973 to 1977. He was also a magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.
Lord Swinton was also formerly a member of the Countryside Commission and director of the Leeds Permanent Building Society.