Peter Baker (UK politician)
Encyclopedia
Peter Arthur David Baker MC
(20 April 1921 – 14 November 1966) was a British
Conservative
politician and Member of Parliament
(MP). He was the last MP to be expelled from the House of Commons
.
Baker was educated at Eastbourne
College and served in World War II
with airborne formations in Europe
and Africa
, winning the Military Cross
. He was captured in the Netherlands
whilst working with the resistance, escaped twice but was recaptured on both occasions. He was originally commissioned into the Royal Artillery
, but later transferred to the Intelligence Corps, reaching the rank of Captain
. He became a publisher after the war.
Baker was first elected as MP for South Norfolk
in the 1950 general election
. Aged 28, he was then the youngest MP ("Baby of the House
"). He was returned again in the 1951 general election
and took an interest in agricultural matters in parliament.
When Baker's companies came into financial trouble, he forged signatures on letters purporting to guarantee their debts. This crime was discovered and Baker was subsequently convicted of uttering, forgery and fraud and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. On 16 December 1954 he was expelled from parliament. In the subsequent by-election in January 1955
, South Norfolk elected Conservative John Hill
as its new MP.
Baker was the last of three MPs expelled during the twentieth century, the others being Garry Allighan
in 1947 and Horatio Bottomley
in 1922. Baker was included in the 2009 book, 'Crap MPs', a countdown of 40 of the worst Members of Parliament in history, at no. 32.
He died in November 1966, aged only 45.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(20 April 1921 – 14 November 1966) was a British
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
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 and 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). He was the last MP to be expelled from the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
.
Baker was educated at Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
College and served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with airborne formations in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, winning the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. He was captured in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
whilst working with the resistance, escaped twice but was recaptured on both occasions. He was originally commissioned into the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, but later transferred to the Intelligence Corps, reaching the rank of Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
. He became a publisher after the war.
Baker was first elected as MP for South Norfolk
South Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)
South Norfolk is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1868 until 1885 it returned two members but thereafter elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in the 1950 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1950
The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five...
. Aged 28, he was then the youngest MP ("Baby of the House
Baby of the House
Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament.-Australia:In Australia the term is rarely used...
"). He was returned again in the 1951 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1951
The 1951 United Kingdom general election was held eighteen months after the 1950 general election, which the Labour Party had won with a slim majority of just five seats...
and took an interest in agricultural matters in parliament.
When Baker's companies came into financial trouble, he forged signatures on letters purporting to guarantee their debts. This crime was discovered and Baker was subsequently convicted of uttering, forgery and fraud and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. On 16 December 1954 he was expelled from parliament. In the subsequent by-election in January 1955
South Norfolk by-election, 1955
The South Norfolk by-election, 1955 was a by-election held on 13th January 1955 for the British House of Commons constituency of South Norfolk....
, South Norfolk elected Conservative John Hill
John Hill (UK politician)
John Edward Bernard Hill was a barrister, farmer, and British Conservative Party politician. He served as Member of Parliament for South Norfolk for 19 years, from 1955 to 1974. He was also one of the UK's first MEPs, serving from 1973-74.Hill was the only son of Captain Robert Hill, an officer...
as its new MP.
Baker was the last of three MPs expelled during the twentieth century, the others being Garry Allighan
Garry Allighan
Garry Allighan was a British journalist and Labour Party Member of Parliament . His birth name was Ernest Alligan...
in 1947 and Horatio Bottomley
Horatio Bottomley
Horatio William Bottomley was a British financier, swindler, journalist, newspaper proprietor, populist politician and Member of Parliament .-Early life:...
in 1922. Baker was included in the 2009 book, 'Crap MPs', a countdown of 40 of the worst Members of Parliament in history, at no. 32.
He died in November 1966, aged only 45.
Sources
- BBC News: Expulsion
- The Guardian: MPs are too good to be true