Giles Shaw
Encyclopedia
Sir John Giles Dunkerley Shaw, known as Giles Shaw, (16 November 1931 – 12 April 2000) was a British
Conservative Party
politician.
Shaw was born in York, the son of an engineer. He was educated at Sedbergh School
and St. John's College, Cambridge, joining the Conservative association and becoming President of the Cambridge Union for Michaelmas term, 1954.
On returning to York, he became an executive of the confectionery firm Rowntree Mackintosh, rising to advertising manager, then marketing director. He was an advertising manager and chairman of the Conservative Divisional Executive.
Shaw contested Kingston upon Hull West in 1966. He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for Pudsey
from 1974 until he retired in 1997.
He held a number of ministerial posts during the Thatcher administration: Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Northern
Ireland Office (1979-1981); Parliamentary Under-Secretary,
Department of Environment (1981-1983); Parliamentary Under-
Secretary, Department of Energy (1983-1984); Minister of State,
Home Office (1984-1986); Minister of State, Department of Trade
and Industry (1986-1987)
He was also elected treasurer of the 1922 Committee in 1988, the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen and later became Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee. He was Chairman of Governors at Sedbergh School from 1992 to 1997.
Shaw was also appointed director of both British Steel
and Yorkshire Water
in 1990, and became the 2nd Chairman of Broadcasters' Audience Research Board Ltd (BARB) in 1997.
Shaw was probably the most popular man of his time in the Commons. This might have been put beyond question in 1992, when many on all sides wanted him as speaker, but the Tory cabinet insisted on backing his senior, Peter Brooke
. Consequently, 74 Tory MPs, led by John Biffen
, voted for Betty Boothroyd
as the first woman speaker.
Shaw died of a stroke aged 68 and is survived by his wife of 38 years, Dione, and their son and two daughters.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Shaw was born in York, the son of an engineer. He was educated at Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
and St. John's College, Cambridge, joining the Conservative association and becoming President of the Cambridge Union for Michaelmas term, 1954.
On returning to York, he became an executive of the confectionery firm Rowntree Mackintosh, rising to advertising manager, then marketing director. He was an advertising manager and chairman of the Conservative Divisional Executive.
Shaw contested Kingston upon Hull West in 1966. He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Pudsey
Pudsey (UK Parliament constituency)
Pudsey is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
from 1974 until he retired in 1997.
He held a number of ministerial posts during the Thatcher administration: Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Northern
Ireland Office (1979-1981); Parliamentary Under-Secretary,
Department of Environment (1981-1983); Parliamentary Under-
Secretary, Department of Energy (1983-1984); Minister of State,
Home Office (1984-1986); Minister of State, Department of Trade
and Industry (1986-1987)
He was also elected treasurer of the 1922 Committee in 1988, the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen and later became Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee. He was Chairman of Governors at Sedbergh School from 1992 to 1997.
Shaw was also appointed director of both British Steel
British Steel
British Steel was a major British steel producer. It originated as a nationalised industry, the British Steel Corporation , formed in 1967. This was converted to a public limited company, British Steel PLC, and privatised in 1988. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
and Yorkshire Water
Yorkshire Water
Yorkshire Water is a water supply and treatment utility company servicing West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire, part of North Lincolnshire, most of North Yorkshire and part of Derbyshire, in England. The company has its origins in the Yorkshire Water Authority, one of ten...
in 1990, and became the 2nd Chairman of Broadcasters' Audience Research Board Ltd (BARB) in 1997.
Shaw was probably the most popular man of his time in the Commons. This might have been put beyond question in 1992, when many on all sides wanted him as speaker, but the Tory cabinet insisted on backing his senior, Peter Brooke
Peter Brooke
Peter Leonard Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville, CH, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, and was a Member of Parliament representing the Cities of London and Westminster from...
. Consequently, 74 Tory MPs, led by John Biffen
John Biffen
William John Biffen, Baron Biffen, PC, DL , was a Conservative member of the House of Lords, who previously spent 36 years in the House of Commons.-Early life:...
, voted for Betty Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd, OM, PC is a British politician, who served as Member of Parliament for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000, initially for the Labour Party and, from 1992 to 2000, as Speaker of the House of Commons...
as the first woman speaker.
Shaw died of a stroke aged 68 and is survived by his wife of 38 years, Dione, and their son and two daughters.