Phyllis Stedman
Encyclopedia
Phyllis Stedman, Baroness Stedman (14 July 1916 – 8 June 1996) was a British
politician
who briefly served as a minister.
Born Phyllis Adams in Peterborough
, Stedman attended Peterborough County Grammar School, then worked as a librarian
in her home town, and served in the National Fire Service
in Derbyshire
during World War II
. After marrying Harry Stedman in 1941, she helped run his family horticultural business.
In 1946, Stedman was elected as to the Soke of Peterborough
County Council, representing the Labour Party
, serving on it and its successors until 1976. She was the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
for Hampstead
before the 1951 UK general election, but withdrew due to illness.
At the 1966 UK general election, Stedman was the election agent
for Michael Ward. When it became apparent that the result was very close, Stedman requested repeated recounts. After the seventh recount - a record which stands to this day - Ward was defeated by the incumbent, Harmar Nicholls
, by three votes.
In 1972, Stedman was appointed to the Peterborough New Town
Development Corporation. On 25 June 1974, she was created a life peer
as Baroness Stedman, of Longthorpe in the City of Peterborough, to bolster the Labour Party in the House of Lords
, and was appointed as a whip
. In January 1979, she was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
for Sport and Water Resources. When the Labour Party lost the 1979 general election, she was moved to become their spokesperson on the environment.
Stedman defected to the Social Democratic Party
(SDP) on its formation in 1981. She became the party's chief whip in the Lords in 1986. Most of the SDP peers opposed the party's merger with the Liberal Party
in 1988. She led them into the continuing Social Democratic Party
and served as its leader in the Lords. When that party dissolved in 1990, she became a crossbencher.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who briefly served as a minister.
Born Phyllis Adams in Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, Stedman attended Peterborough County Grammar School, then worked as a librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
in her home town, and served in the National Fire Service
National Fire Service
The National Fire Service was the single fire service created in Great Britain in 1941 during the Second World War; a separate National Fire Service was created in 1942....
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
during 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...
. After marrying Harry Stedman in 1941, she helped run his family horticultural business.
In 1946, Stedman was elected as to the Soke of Peterborough
Soke of Peterborough
The Soke of Peterborough is an historic area of England that is traditionally associated with the City and Diocese of Peterborough, but considered part of Northamptonshire...
County Council, representing the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, serving on it and its successors until 1976. She was the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
Prospective parliamentary candidate
Prospective parliamentary candidate is a term used in British politics to refer to candidates selected by political parties to fight individual constituencies in advance of a general election. This terminology was motivated by the strict limits on the amount of expenses incurred by an actual...
for Hampstead
Hampstead (UK Parliament constituency)
Hampstead was a borough constituency, centered on the Hampstead area of North London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, who was elected using the first-past-the-post voting system....
before the 1951 UK general election, but withdrew due to illness.
At the 1966 UK general election, Stedman was the election agent
Election agent
In elections in the United Kingdom, as well as in certain other similar political systems such as India's, an election agent is the person legally responsible for the conduct of a candidate's political campaign and to whom election material is sent to by those running the election. In elections in...
for Michael Ward. When it became apparent that the result was very close, Stedman requested repeated recounts. After the seventh recount - a record which stands to this day - Ward was defeated by the incumbent, Harmar Nicholls
Harmar Nicholls
Harmar Harmar-Nicholls, Baron Harmar-Nicholls , known as Sir Harmar Nicholls, 1st Baronet, from 1960 to 1975, was a British Conservative Party politician.-Early life and career:...
, by three votes.
In 1972, Stedman was appointed to the Peterborough New Town
New Town
New Town may refer to:*New town, a generic name for a planned city development or expansion*In the United Kingdom, any of a specific set of towns created under various Acts of Parliament for population moved out of overcrowded conurbations-Places:...
Development Corporation. On 25 June 1974, she was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baroness Stedman, of Longthorpe in the City of Peterborough, to bolster the Labour Party in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, and was appointed as a whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
. In January 1979, she was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the government of the United Kingdom, junior to both a Minister of State and a Secretary of State....
for Sport and Water Resources. When the Labour Party lost the 1979 general election, she was moved to become their spokesperson on the environment.
Stedman defected to the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
(SDP) on its formation in 1981. She became the party's chief whip in the Lords in 1986. Most of the SDP peers opposed the party's merger with the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
in 1988. She led them into the continuing Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK, 1988)
A Social Democratic Party was formed in the United Kingdom in 1981 by a group of dissident Labour Party Members of Parliament : Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, who became known as the "Gang of Four"....
and served as its leader in the Lords. When that party dissolved in 1990, she became a crossbencher.