Philip Bell
Encyclopedia
Philip Ingress Bell, TD
, QC
(10 January 1900 – 12 September 1986) was a British
barrister and judge, who also had a political career.
. While at school he wrote a book called "Idols and Idylls", subtitled "Essays by a Public School Boy"; it was published by Burns & Oates
in 1918. When he came to the age of 18 during the First World War, he entered the Royal Navy
as a Cadet, and attended the Royal Naval College
in Keyham, Plymouth
. He was a Midshipman from 1918 to 1920 when he was discharged. Bell then went up to Queen's College, Oxford
where he studied jurisprudence
and obtained a Bachelor of Civil Law
degree. While at Oxford he was Captain of the Oxford University Boxing Club.
, and went into practice on the Northern circuit, based in Lancashire. He enjoyed a good practice at the bar, and in 1933 married the daughter of the High Sheriff of Lancashire. In 1939 he enlisted again in the Territorial Army as a Lieutenant, and was posted to the East Lancashire Regiment in France. After making a successful return to England from Dunkirk
, he joined the Judge Advocate-General to the Forces' staff, and was an Acting Major serving through Normandy and in the team at the Belsen Trial
.
candidate for Bolton East
, the more Conservative constituency in Bolton. He was defeated by 3,709 votes, but a Liberal candidate won more than twice that. Given the Liberal strength in Bolton West
, the Bolton Conservative and Liberal associations adopted the "Huddersfield formula" which had been negotiated in the two Huddersfield constituencies for 1950, whereby each agreed to fight only one seat and to support the other's campaign.
, Bell was elected by 355 votes. His maiden speech in March 1952 concerned the National Health Service Bill which allowed the NHS to charge for medical appliances; he called for pensioners to be exempt from charges. In 1952 he was made a Queen's Counsel
. He introduced a private members' bill a few days later to allow law cases to be transferred from the Crown Court to the Court of Chancery of the County Palatine of Lancaster. He often commented on foreign and colonial affairs, and supported the Television Bill of 1954, arguing that advertisers were not evil. He specifically advocated that religious bodies be able to become television contractors.
In the 1955 general election
Bell improved his majority to 3,511. He supported retention of capital punishment
in the most extreme cases, and also signed an amendment which would allow Judges to sentence murderers to whipping in addition to any other punishment. In February 1958 he opposed the government's Recreational Charities Bill, arguing that it extended the definition of charitable purposes too widely. He also opposed the Litter Bill introduced by fellow Conservative MP Rupert Speir
, saying that it criminalised those who dropped litter but did not realise it. Bell also opposed the Legitimacy Bill in 1959, contending that removing the legal disabilities of illegitimate children would be a risk against the institution of marriage.
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(10 January 1900 – 12 September 1986) 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...
barrister and judge, who also had a political career.
Early life
Bell, whose father Geoffrey Vincent Bell was a sculptor, was educated at Stonyhurst CollegeStonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
. While at school he wrote a book called "Idols and Idylls", subtitled "Essays by a Public School Boy"; it was published by Burns & Oates
Burns & Oates
Burns & Oates is a British Roman Catholic publishing house which now exists as an imprint of Continuum. It was founded by James Burns in 1835, originally as a bookseller...
in 1918. When he came to the age of 18 during the First World War, he entered the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a Cadet, and attended the Royal Naval College
Royal Naval College
Royal Naval College may refer to:* Royal Naval Academy in Portsmouth , renamed the Royal Naval College in 1806* Royal Naval College, Greenwich * Royal Naval College, Osborne...
in Keyham, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. He was a Midshipman from 1918 to 1920 when he was discharged. Bell then went up to Queen's College, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
where he studied jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
and obtained a Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
degree. While at Oxford he was Captain of the Oxford University Boxing Club.
Legal career
In 1925 Bell was called to the Bar by the Inner TempleInner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, and went into practice on the Northern circuit, based in Lancashire. He enjoyed a good practice at the bar, and in 1933 married the daughter of the High Sheriff of Lancashire. In 1939 he enlisted again in the Territorial Army as a Lieutenant, and was posted to the East Lancashire Regiment in France. After making a successful return to England from Dunkirk
Operation Dynamo
The Dunkirk evacuation, commonly known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo by the British, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and the early hours of 3 June 1940, because the British, French and Belgian troops were...
, he joined the Judge Advocate-General to the Forces' staff, and was an Acting Major serving through Normandy and in the team at the Belsen Trial
Belsen Trial
The Belsen Trial was one of several trials that the Allied occupation forces conducted against former officials and functionaries of Nazi Germany after the end of World War II...
.
Political involvement
At the end of the war, Bell returned to his practice. In 1950 he was adopted as Conservative PartyConservative 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...
candidate for Bolton East
Bolton East (UK Parliament constituency)
Bolton East was a borough constituency in the town of Bolton in Greater Manchester . It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
, the more Conservative constituency in Bolton. He was defeated by 3,709 votes, but a Liberal candidate won more than twice that. Given the Liberal strength in Bolton West
Bolton West (UK Parliament constituency)
Bolton West is a county 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...
, the Bolton Conservative and Liberal associations adopted the "Huddersfield formula" which had been negotiated in the two Huddersfield constituencies for 1950, whereby each agreed to fight only one seat and to support the other's campaign.
Parliamentary career
With this help, in the 1951 general electionUnited 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...
, Bell was elected by 355 votes. His maiden speech in March 1952 concerned the National Health Service Bill which allowed the NHS to charge for medical appliances; he called for pensioners to be exempt from charges. In 1952 he was made a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. He introduced a private members' bill a few days later to allow law cases to be transferred from the Crown Court to the Court of Chancery of the County Palatine of Lancaster. He often commented on foreign and colonial affairs, and supported the Television Bill of 1954, arguing that advertisers were not evil. He specifically advocated that religious bodies be able to become television contractors.
In the 1955 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1955
The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on 26 May 1955, four years after the previous general election. It resulted in a substantially increased majority of 60 for the Conservative government under new leader and prime minister Sir Anthony Eden against Labour Party, now in their 20th year...
Bell improved his majority to 3,511. He supported retention of capital punishment
Capital punishment in the United Kingdom
Capital punishment in the United Kingdom was used from the creation of the state in 1707 until the practice was abolished in the 20th century. The last executions in the United Kingdom, by hanging, took place in 1964, prior to capital punishment being abolished for murder...
in the most extreme cases, and also signed an amendment which would allow Judges to sentence murderers to whipping in addition to any other punishment. In February 1958 he opposed the government's Recreational Charities Bill, arguing that it extended the definition of charitable purposes too widely. He also opposed the Litter Bill introduced by fellow Conservative MP Rupert Speir
Rupert Speir
Sir Rupert Malise Speir was a British Conservative Party politician.He was born at East Saltoun in East Lothian, Scotland, and educated at Eton College and at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he was chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association...
, saying that it criminalised those who dropped litter but did not realise it. Bell also opposed the Legitimacy Bill in 1959, contending that removing the legal disabilities of illegitimate children would be a risk against the institution of marriage.