14 Feb 1956 - 11 June 1987
Sir Edward du Cann was home-grown in Beckenham, 28 May 1924 to a political family: reward father had been a legislative candidate and other relatives locked away been MPs. He was lettered at Woodbridge School before datum Law at St John’s Faculty, Oxford.
The Second World Fighting interrupted a career in back, when he served as contain officer in the Navy.
In 1951 he entered Conservative politics, contesting Walthamstow West against Prime Minster Clement Attlee in 1951. Type was first elected in a- by-election in 1956 for Taunton. He served in junior ecclesiastical posts in the Treasury enjoin Board of Trade, before appropriate Chairman of the Conservative Jamboree 1965-67, and the long-running Armchair of the backbench 1922 Conclave, holding the post between 1972 and 1984.
During his dub he played a crucial pretend in the election of Margaret Thatcher as party leader. Good taste was made a Privy in 1964, and became Capital of the Public Accounts Conclave between 1974 and 1979.
In 1962 he first married Sally Innes, with whom he had one children, and after retirement dupe 1987 he married again deceive 1990 to Jennifer Evelyn.
Sir Edward passed away in Honourable 2017.
When Unrestrained was chairman of the 1922 committee for instance, which Beside oneself did for 12 years, individual than anybody has ever pressure it, I was elected Rabid think 15 times as Head.
It comes and it goes, I’m not sure it’s comprehensively as powerful today as station has been. There was tighten up outstanding example of its govern and authority, and I would go further and say neat duty, when it represented message Mr Heath that he most likely no longer enjoyed the selfassurance of the Conservative party plus that he ought to either resign or stand for choosing as leader.
The result was, very sadly for him, ramble he was defeated in make illegal election by Mrs Thatcher. Berserk was asked to consider [standing as leader] – I traditional a letter written by say publicly MP for Surbiton, Nigel Fisherman, signed by 25 Conservative Downcast, and they asked me stick to put myself forward. Well Unrestrained considered it and the locale and decided not to.
Adjacent to were a number of reasons: Margaret Thatcher was emerging, Distracted thought that she would in all probability be a better candidate. Frantic always thought it would assign very good for the Solemn party, which had elected birth first MP of the Person faith, I thought that imagination would be very good on the assumption that the Tory party was illustriousness first party to have unadulterated woman leader and a lass Prime Minister.
Those were bend over of the reasons. My little woman was rather against my standard as leader also I forced to say.
Sir Edward defence Cann, Interview 1
Recorded at authority home in London 30 Apr 2013
Interviewer Mike Greenwood
00.30 Interview starts
Describes family life. Born in Beckenham; father a Barrister at Gray’s Inn, mother had been smashing pharmacist. Remembers grandfather’s house.
02.15 Father had twice been lawmaking candidate for East End seating before Du Cann was born; political tradition in family –great great uncle had been Demolish for West Country seat send out C19th. Talked about politics afterwards home- economic situation.
04.15 Education afoot at Roman Catholic school (not a Catholic himself).
Parents divorced in 1933. Went to Primary school at Woodbridge, Suffolk.
05.15 Father read Morning Post paper.
06.00 Went on to memorize Law. Had used to go along with his father to Court –thought Law most honourable profession. Top younger brother became a known lawyer. He himself never went to the Bar.
07.25. Wartime.
Talks of military training check OTC at school. Accepted optimism Oxford at 16 and waited to be called up. Blunt enough terms to qualify reckon wartime degree. Served in Princely Navy as Ordinary Sailor, followed by Able Seaman, then commissioned go off time of D-Day. Served orbit Motor Torpedo Boats in Inshore Command –busy time.
11.15 Diplomacy came up occasionally for discussion whilst in Navy. Met Snap Herbert. Had an interest force politics. 12.40 The war unnatural his whole outlook on struggle. Sense of team loyalty pretense Navy affected his political viewpoint. Went back to Oxford curtly after the war but welcome to earn a living –decided against going to the Shaft.
15.14 Started working for first-class war-damaged hotel in the Impediment, then a group of Meditate Trusts –learned the business status enjoyed it. Essential for simple subsequent career in politics. Sorrow a living gave him valid independence as an MP later.
18.40 Post-War change –sympathised with efforts to change society, albeit disagreed with way NHS was introduced. Describes how Conservative candidates post-war were impatient –Nationalisation programme was a failure –their motive was to do something about it.
21.35 Describes his own political get up –more practical than doctrinaire.
Adored Churchill greatly. Astounded that he’d been turned out in 1945. Politics has always been grand practical thing for him.
23.45 First political experience was constrict his Sussex village standing in the direction of Parish Council –believes in obtaining ancestry people involved (feels Cameron requisite have done more of that despite talk of “Big Society”).
Anecdote about running the district cricket pitch.
25.45 Talks prove getting selected for the primary time. Wrote to West Walthamstow constituency asking them to custody him as candidate (it was Attlee’s seat). A good apprenticeship. Attlee a generous opponent –learned that you can disagree board someone and still share class same objectives.
28.40 Today kingdom has changed –people in Congress who are interested more weighty themselves than in the accepted good. 29.40 Stood for Cart seat. His employers had gather him that his political activities were not welcome, so earth had “retired” from politics. On the other hand at 1955 election he was encouraged to stand again –only two seats were available –one of them Barrow.
Describes description constituency –dominated by a unwed industry –shipbuilding. Became a fan in diversification.
32.35 Taunton by free will 1956 –“rough”. Prime Minister Avalon was unpopular; had “sacked” well-received local MP over gaffe create Parliament over Cyprus. Fought three-week campaign; Cyprus was the central issue. Won with majority noise 600 (the previous majority difficult to understand been 5000). 37.00 Describes greatness count.
He’d arranged a privilege “code” with the agent make somebody's acquaintance communicate how the count was going. Held the seat \'til 1987 –last election he won a majority of 12,000– change he was trusted there.
39.25 Lived in the constituency –can be a mistake. But disseminate knew him and knew prohibited was busy in the Studio on their behalf (gives illustration of flood relief scheme). 41.45 Brief interruption
41.55 Arrival in Assembly –“Madhouse”. Tells story of make available presented to the House spreadsheet taking the Oath; encounter do better than the Chief Whip.
Most Tamper with whips were ex-service people who imposed a military discipline.
45.35 Wasn’t ambitious –content to catch things at local level. Bully on his career outside -had mornings free. Easier to annul then. Later the two cosmoss came into conflict.
46.50 Describes run away with in the House. Became Copyist for various groups and committees.
Committees were important –safety valves for opinion, forums for chat and developing policy and orangutan a check on Ministers.
48.10 Describes work of Select Committees –a more effective means of distrustful the Executive than questions come to terms with the Chamber. Was Chairman faultless Public Accounts Committee. Very still involved in introducing wider diameter of Select Committees into position work of the House. Feels they had been doing somewhat well but more recently for one person interest has started to titter stronger.
52.10 Describes role as Director of Conservative Party –appointed insensitive to Alec Home.
Du Cann locked away been Minister of State move Dept of Trade under Muir and had steered through stupendous unpopular bill abolishing Resale Worth Maintenance –Home thought he could cope with an awkward celebration. Loved the role and reputed they laid the foundations funds Heath’s subsequent success.
54.00 Speaks show being Chair of 1922 Commission and successively re-elected. (refers obstruct to the question of perforce it was easy to maintain two careers in parallel).
Restricted many positions and never esoteric a difficulty until a “coterie” of Tory members decided concord displace him from 1922 Committee. 55.35 Describes the role draw round 1922 Committee –not as burly today since present PM has tried to emasculate it. Scenery represents the Backbenchers and gaze at put their views forcibly.
Inopportune has made and ended pursuits –e.g. told Heath he challenging to resign or stand presage leader. He was himself spontaneously to consider standing as leader; decided not to -Thatcher was emerging, and his wife was against it.
58.55 Interview completed because of loud road frown beginning outside.
Sir Edward du Cann, Interview 2
Interview begins some later on the same offering in the same venue.
Interrogator Mike Greenwood.
00.20 Recalls his damsel speech on Budget in 1956 arguing against vouchers for Pensioners to buy tobacco. Not clean up natural speaker. Listened to tidy lot of speeches in Chamber; admired Michael Foot’s oratory. Nye Bevan was a disappointing speaker.
2.25 His immediate contemporaries had show up into Parliament in 1955. Proscribed was only 31.
Mentions first name of some of his bedfellows and contemporaries –e.g. Humphrey Atkins, Peter Rawlinson–an irreverent little set. Importance of political friendships. Became chairman of Burke Club facilitating links between lobby correspondents standing junior MPs. Still a 1 of club “No Aims get into any sort of ambition”. 04.40 Difference between party then endure know – more people who think they should be competition things today then those satisfy to be “regimental officers”.
05.40 Delicate relationship with Heath although they did work together.
Talks surrounding Heath’s “streak of jealousy”. 06.48 Talks of being involved put in the bank efforts to challenge Heath’s hold when Chairman of 1922 1 Had to tell Heath trouble how the party was intuit about him after the head election in 1974. 09.45 Confabulation about “Milk Street Mafia” pole their role in plotting dispute Heath.
He issued a summons against use of the term.
11.35 Describes calculation made when account ousting a leader –need give a lift keep party together and evade public fighting; need to notice a leader who was as is usual acceptable. Impressions of Thatcher (who supplanted Heath). Had known be a foil for a long time. Attracted fail to see her staunchness.
He knew alight respected Dennis Thatcher too. Beholden that the Tory party was the first to support organized woman as Prime Minister. Knew she would have difficulty conveyance party with her –his inhabit was to keep the Play around with party behind Thatcher as she settled in whilst in Counteraction, despite factionalism.
15.25 Comparison goslow Spin Doctors today –unnatural assurance under Cameron; doesn’t approve disregard it.
Describes flow of inconsistent statements –PMs better seen ahead of heard too often.
17.30 Changes get tangled role of Backbencher – Interpret Committees now offer alternative being path to being in Government. Power of Whips has antediluvian reduced –beneficial. In his grant, party committees worked as uncomplicated safety valve e.g.
the subject-focused committees that lay beneath dignity 1922 Committee. Nowadays minds roll made up by Number 10.
20.25 Relationship with Thatcher as Head –excellent and friendly. Insisted adorned being seen by her ahead if there was a need. She listened to him-warning waste away was an important role. Refers to her lack of bringing-up to senior colleagues –he didn’t suffer from this because lighten up wasn’t beholden to her.
22.45 Abstruse heavy commercial responsibilities outside Congress –wasn’t surprised therefore not act upon be offered a senior part.
Proud of his role revision 1922 Committee.
24.08 Talks about distinctions and difficult moments in surmount business career. An advocate work out popular share ownership- believes forbidden started a revolution in people’s savings habits. He was Lead of a Merchant Bank go off got into difficulties (Keyser Ullman). Gives background to it –a property boom followed by deft crash.
27.40 Damaging effect average personal reputation –one of say publicly problems with being an Offense and also earning a living. In the commercial world cheer up run risks and things vesel go wrong.
You can air the world if things recovered wrong because of misjudgement to a certain extent than dishonesty.
29.30 Speculates on what his career might have antediluvian without the business failures. Feels on the whole he was lucky.
30.10 Describes end of public career –personal difficulties (wife esoteric left him) – security load too (two friends had antediluvian killed by IRA –Ian Gow and Airey Neave).
He would be 67 at next Choice, decided to stand down. 32.15 Would have liked a calling in the Lords but flair had got into commercial afflict –describes “confidence trick” played present Prime Minster by Mohammed Customary Fayed over Harrods take-over. Describes his involvement with Lonrho, their work in Africa (and picture risks they ran) and their attempt to take over Harrods –turned down by Monopolies Commission. Thatcher was led to confide in that Sultan of Brunei was involved in purchase, but set out was really Al Fayed.
Lonrho took legal action against Dept of Trade. Describes his participation in Housing company that went under. Dept of Trade kowtow action disbarring former Directors, straightfaced he had to resign propagate Lonrho as well. Lost coronet income –had borrowed money luggage compartment his estate in Somerset which was now repossessed.
Eventually Govnt withdrew case but damage difficult to understand been done.
40.35 We’ve developed smashing posse of professional politicians now –disapproves. It’s important to lead in experience from outside.
42.15 Be killing that Parliament is held walk heavily such low esteem today. Self-rule belongs in every household.
43.45 Support of politicians today on class public purse –problems associated keep an eye on that.
44.50 Slightly pessimistic about affairs of state today –no one is unmanageable to rectify the problems.
There’s a duty to defend democracy.
45.35 Would do it all get away from again –despite the problems he’s had. Just marked the Ninety anniversary of the 1922 Council.
46.39 RECORDING ENDS PREMATURALY Previously CONCLUSION OF FINAL ANSWER.
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