Summary
Sir John Stradling Thomas (10 June 1925 – 29 March 1991)[1] was a Welsh Conservative Party politician. He was also a farmer, company director and broadcaster.
Sir John Stradling Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales | |
| In office 11 February 1983 – 2 September 1985 | |
| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by | Michael Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Mark Robinson |
| Treasurer of the Household | |
| In office 6 May 1979 – 11 February 1983 | |
| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by | Walter Harrison |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Berry |
| Member of Parliament for Monmouth | |
| In office 18 June 1970 – 29 March 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Anderson |
| Succeeded by | Huw Edwards |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 June 1925 |
| Died | 29 March 1991 (aged 65) |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Residence | Dolphin Square |
| Education | Rugby School |
| Alma mater | University of London |
| Occupation |
|
Biography edit
Thomas was educated at Rugby School and the University of London. He served as a councillor on Carmarthen Borough Council between 1961 and 1964.
Thomas contested the parliamentary constituency of Aberavon in 1964 and Cardiganshire in 1966. He was Member of Parliament for Monmouth from 1970 until he died in office in 1991. He held various ministerial posts during the Heath and Thatcher administrations, including government Whip, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, Treasurer of HM Household and in the Welsh Office, the later as a result of the premature death of Michael Roberts MP in February 1983. During his time as an whip, the government of the day often came close to losing divisions in the House of Commons as their majority was small. Stradling-Thomas was involved in one such instance, which was recalled by Joe Ashton MP: "We had a tied vote and Leslie Spriggs was brought to the House in an ambulance having suffered a severe heart attack. The two Whips went out to look in the ambulance and there was Leslie laid there as though he was dead. John Stradling Thomas said to Joe Harper, 'How do we know that he is alive?' So [Joe] leaned forward, turned the knob on the heart machine, the green light went around, and he said, 'There, you've lost-it's 311' [the vote had been tied 310-310]."[2]
In his final years he lived at Dolphin Square in Pimlico, London.
References edit
Notes edit
Other sources edit
- The Times Guide to the House of Commons, Times Newspapers Ltd, 1966, 1987 & 1992
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
External links edit
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by John Stradling Thomas
- Sir John Stradling Thomas at parliament.uk