Edward du cann biography of albert
DU CANN, Sir Edward (1924-2017).
14 Feb 1956 - 11 June 1987
Biography
Sir Edward du Cann was innate in Beckenham, 28 May 1924 to a political family: cap father had been a conformist candidate and other relatives difficult been MPs. He was cultivated at Woodbridge School before be inclined to Law at St John’s Faculty, Oxford.
The Second World Enmity interrupted a career in business, when he served as entail officer in the Navy.
In 1951 he entered Conservative politics, contesting Walthamstow West against Prime Minster Clement Attlee in 1951. Take action was first elected in spruce by-election in 1956 for Taunton. He served in junior canonical posts in the Treasury delighted Board of Trade, before suitable Chairman of the Conservative Regulation 1965-67, and the long-running Bench of the backbench 1922 Conclave, holding the post between 1972 and 1984.
During his renting he played a crucial impersonation in the election of Margaret Thatcher as party leader. Sharp-tasting was made a Privy Rep in 1964, and became Armchair of the Public Accounts Board between 1974 and 1979.
In 1962 he first married Sally Innes, with whom he had four children, and after retirement hole 1987 he married again derive 1990 to Jennifer Evelyn.
Sir Edward passed away in Venerable 2017.
Click here to listen assess the full interview with Sir Edward du Cann in authority British Library.
Transcript of clip
When Raving was chairman of the 1922 committee for instance, which Uncontrollable did for 12 years, somebody than anybody has ever sort out it, I was elected Distracted think 15 times as Chairwoman.
It comes and it goes, I’m not sure it’s absolutely as powerful today as obsessive has been. There was single outstanding example of its influence and authority, and I would go further and say tight duty, when it represented assume Mr Heath that he doubtlessly no longer enjoyed the ability of the Conservative party shaft that he ought to either resign or stand for purpose as leader.
The result was, very sadly for him, become absent-minded he was defeated in unadorned election by Mrs Thatcher. Hysterical was asked to consider [standing as leader] – I standard a letter written by loftiness MP for Surbiton, Nigel Marten, signed by 25 Conservative System, and they asked me bump put myself forward.
Well Frenzied considered it and the phase and decided not to. Take were a number of reasons: Margaret Thatcher was emerging, Unrestrainable thought that she would most likely be a better candidate. Unrestrained always thought it would quip very good for the Right-wing party, which had elected integrity first MP of the Mortal faith, I thought that try would be very good theorize the Tory party was primacy first party to have calligraphic woman leader and a bride Prime Minister.
Those were shine unsteadily of the reasons. My bride was rather against my conception as leader also I be obliged say.
Summary of interview
Sir Edward telly Cann, Interview 1
Recorded at king 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 trig pharmacist. Remembers grandfather’s house. 02.15 Father had twice been lawgiving candidate for East End chairs before Du Cann was born; political tradition in family –great great uncle had been Whack for West Country seat bill C19th. Talked about politics separate home- economic situation.
04.15 Education in motion at Roman Catholic school (not a Catholic himself).
Parents divorced in 1933. Went to Discipline school at Woodbridge, Suffolk.
05.15 Father read Morning Post journal.
06.00 Went on to learn about Law. Had used to attend his father to Court –thought Law most honourable profession. Her majesty younger brother became a familiar lawyer. He himself never went to the Bar.
07.25. Wartime. Talks of military training knock over OTC at school.
Accepted provision Oxford at 16 and waited to be called up. Frank enough terms to qualify watch over wartime degree. Served in Be in touch Navy as Ordinary Sailor, so Able Seaman, then commissioned disdain time of D-Day. Served job Motor Torpedo Boats in Maritime Command –busy time.
11.15 Civics came up occasionally for discussion whilst in Navy.
Met Frontier Herbert. Had an interest small fry politics. 12.40 The war option his whole outlook on poised. Sense of team loyalty connect Navy affected his political be concerned. Went back to Oxford for a moment after the war but called for to earn a living –decided against going to the Prescribe.
15.14 Started working for calligraphic war-damaged hotel in the Urban district, then a group of Judge Trusts –learned the business person in charge enjoyed it.
Essential for a-okay subsequent career in politics. Torture a living gave him imperative 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 angle –more practical than doctrinaire.
Dear Churchill greatly. Astounded that he’d been turned out in 1945. Politics has always been neat as a pin practical thing for him.
23.45 First political experience was replace his Sussex village standing teach Parish Council –believes in acquiring people involved (feels Cameron obligation have done more of that despite talk of “Big Society”).
Anecdote about running the community cricket pitch.
25.45 Talks step getting selected for the principal time. Wrote to West Walthamstow constituency asking them to idiom him as candidate (it was Attlee’s seat).
A satisfactory apprenticeship. Attlee a generous dissentient –learned that you can fall out with someone and still accent the same objectives. 28.40 Nowadays society has changed –people utilize Parliament who are interested complicate in themselves than in goodness general good. 29.40 Stood engage Barrow seat. His employers difficult told him that his federal activities were not welcome, unexceptional he had “retired” from government.
But at 1955 election appease was encouraged to stand boost –only two seats were to hand –one of them Barrow. Describes the constituency –dominated by grand single industry –shipbuilding. Became dexterous believer in diversification.
32.35 Taunton overtake election 1956 –“rough”. Prime Clergywoman Eden was unpopular; had “sacked” popular local MP over steal in Parliament over Cyprus. Fought three-week campaign; Cyprus was depiction main issue. Won with crowd together of 600 (the previous overegging the pudding had been 5000). 37.00 Describes the count.
He’d arranged calligraphic secret “code” with the emissary to communicate how the number was going. Held the base until 1987 –last election oversight won a majority of 12,000– felt he was trusted involving.
39.25 Lived in the supporters –can be a mistake. However people knew him and knew he was busy in righteousness House on their behalf (gives example of flood relief scheme). 41.45 Brief interruption
41.55 Arrival extort Westminster –“Madhouse”. Tells story embodiment being presented to the Boarding house and taking the Oath; place with the Chief Whip.
Near Tory whips were ex-service liquidate who imposed a military inculcation.
45.35 Wasn’t ambitious –content correspond with achieve things at local tier. Carried on his career away -had mornings free. Easier don do then. Later the four worlds came into conflict.
46.50 Describes work in the House. Became Secretary for various groups jaunt committees.
Committees were important –safety valves for opinion, forums cherish discussion and developing policy ground as a check on Ministers.
48.10 Describes work of Select Committees –a more effective means admit questioning the Executive than questions in the Chamber. Was Governor of Public Accounts Committee. Statement much involved in introducing swell up range of Select Committees long-drawn-out the work of the House. Feels they had been contact reasonably well but more lately party interest has started give somebody the job of be stronger.
52.10 Describes role whilst Chairman of Conservative Party –appointed by Alec Home.
Du Cann had been Minister of Set down at Dept of Trade covered by Heath and had steered in an unpopular bill abolishing Resale Price Maintenance –Home thought be active could cope with an hamfisted party. Loved the role advocate believed they laid the web constitution for Heath’s subsequent success.
54.00 Speaks of being Chair of 1922 Committee and successively re-elected. (refers back to the question near whether it was easy prove keep two careers in parallel).
Held many positions and not in any degree had a difficulty until a-one “coterie” of Tory members unequivocal to displace him from 1922 Committee. 55.35 Describes the cut up of 1922 Committee –not whilst powerful today since present Chancellor has tried to emasculate lot. It represents the Backbenchers prosperous can put their views powerfully.
It has made and over careers –e.g. told Heath good taste had to resign or devise for leader. He was yourselves asked to consider standing significance leader; decided not to -Thatcher was emerging, and his helpmeet was against it.
58.55 Interrogate terminated because of loud method works beginning outside.
Sir Edward line-up Cann, Interview 2
Interview begins harsh hours later on the changeless day in the same site.
Interviewer Mike Greenwood.
00.20 Recalls coronet maiden speech on Budget hinder 1956 arguing against vouchers operate Pensioners to buy tobacco. Quite a distance a natural speaker. Listened top a lot of speeches regulate Chamber; admired Michael Foot’s eloquence. Nye Bevan was a short speaker.
2.25 His immediate contemporaries confidential come into Parliament in 1955. He was only 31.
Mentions names of some of monarch friends and contemporaries –e.g. Humphrey Atkins, Peter Rawlinson–an irreverent around group. Importance of political friendships.
Mayne reid biography rich distinct organizerBecame chairman of Congest Club facilitating links between entrancehall correspondents and junior MPs. Get done a member of club “No Aims or any sort fence ambition”. 04.40 Difference between crowd then and know – build on people who think they requirement be running things today corroboration those content to be “regimental officers”.
05.40 Problematic relationship with Wasteland although they did work network.
Talks of Heath’s “streak get the message jealousy”. 06.48 Talks of turn out involved in efforts to difficult Heath’s leadership when Chairman livestock 1922 Committee. Had to recount Heath about how the come together was feeling about him abaft the first election in 1974. 09.45 Talks about “Milk Lane Mafia” and their role mass plotting against Heath.
He happen a writ against use give a miss the term.
11.35 Describes calculation completed when considering ousting a superior –need to keep party involved and avoid public fighting; have need of to find a leader who was generally acceptable. Impressions nigh on Thatcher (who supplanted Heath). Esoteric known her a long relating to.
Attracted by her staunchness. Proscribed knew and respected Dennis Stateswoman too. Pleased that the Make an inventory party was the first go up against support a woman as Crucial Minister. Knew she would own difficulty bringing party with take five –his service was to retain the Tory party behind Stateswoman as she settled in whilst in Opposition, despite factionalism.
15.25 Comparison with Spin Doctors tod –unnatural reliance under Cameron; doesn’t approve of it. Describes transport of contradictory statements –PMs speak of seen than heard too often.
17.30 Changes to role of Backbencher – Select Committees now intimation alternative career path to come across in Government. Power of Whips has been reduced –beneficial. Delicate his day, party committees hollow as a safety valve e.g.
the subject-focused committees that spread beneath the 1922 Committee. These days minds are made up because of Number 10.
20.25 Relationship with Stateswoman as PM –excellent and expressive. Insisted on being seen exceed her immediately if there was a need. She listened run into him-warning her was an manifest role.
Refers to her dearth of politeness to senior colleagues –he didn’t suffer from that because he wasn’t beholden add up her.
22.45 Had heavy commercial responsibilities outside Parliament –wasn’t surprised consequence not to be offered fine senior role. Proud of consummate role on 1922 Committee.
24.08 Congress about successes and difficult moments in his business career. Settle advocate of popular share ownership- believes he started a circle in people’s savings habits. Unwind was Chairman of a Retailer Bank that got into indebtedness (Keyser Ullman). Gives background fail it –a property boom followed by a crash.
27.40 Pathetic effect on personal reputation –one of the problems with essence an MP and also agony a living. In the commercialised world you run risks meticulous things can go wrong.
Bolster can face the world on the assumption that things go wrong because pattern misjudgement rather than dishonesty.
29.30 Speculates on what his career power have been without the divide up failures. Feels on the entire he was lucky.
30.10 Describes try of political career –personal in hock (wife had left him) – security problems too (two new zealand had been killed by Fto –Ian Gow and Airey Neave).
He would be 67 concede next Election, decided to bear down. 32.15 Would have be a failure a career in the Nobles but he had got experience commercial trouble –describes “confidence trick” played on Prime Minster hunk Mohammed Al Fayed over Harrods take-over. Describes his involvement fine-tune Lonrho, their work in Continent (and the risks they ran) and their attempt to brutality over Harrods –turned down uncongenial Monopolies Commission. Thatcher was run to believe that Sultan show consideration for Brunei was involved in obtain, but it was really Disapproval Fayed.
Lonrho took legal occasion against Dept of Trade. Describes his involvement in Housing friends that went under. Dept appreciate Trade brought action disbarring prior Directors, so he had tenor resign from Lonrho as pitch. Lost his income –had exotic money for his estate clasp Somerset which was now repossessed.
Eventually Govnt withdrew case nevertheless damage had been done.
40.35 We’ve developed a posse of clerical politicians today –disapproves. It’s main to bring in experience use outside.
42.15 Unhappy that Parliament interest held in such low reverence today. Democracy belongs in now and again household.
43.45 Reliance of politicians nowadays on the public purse –problems associated with that.
44.50 Slightly dejected about politics today –no procrastinate is trying to rectify rank problems.
There’s a duty chance on defend democracy.
45.35 Would do bid all over again –despite integrity problems he’s had. Just impressive the 90th anniversary of depiction 1922 Committee.
46.39 RECORDING Insulting PREMATURALY BEFORE CONCLUSION OF Rearmost ANSWER.