William Clark, Baron Clark of Kempston
Encyclopedia
William Gibson Haig Clark, Baron Clark of Kempston, PC (18 October 1917 – 6 October 2004) was a British
Conservative Party
politician.
Clark was educated at Battersea Polytechnic
, qualifying in accountancy in 1941. From 1941 until 1946, he served in World War II
in Britain and India
in the Royal Ordnance Corps, gaining the rank of major. He became involved in business, particularly in sugar broking, with interests in St Kitts and Belize
, and in property back in the UK.
In 1949, Clark was elected a councillor on Wandsworth Borough Council
, serving until 1953. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to win a seat on the London County Council
and stood without success in the 1955 general election
in Northampton
.
Clark was elected to Parliament for Nottingham South
in 1959, serving on the opposition front bench from 1964 to 1966, the only period in his career. He lost his seat in 1966.
He was subsequently elected MP for East Surrey
1970 to 1974 and for its largely successor seat after boundary changes, Croydon South
from 1974 until he retired in 1992. He was active in the 1970s in restoring Conservative Party finances to a sustainable levels. He identified with the right wing of the party and voted against British membership of the Common Market
in 1971. He chaired the Conservative backbench Finance Committee from 1979 until 1992, encouraging Margaret Thatcher
to pursue financial stability and free enterprise and defending her policies on television and radio. He was knighted in 1980 and in 1990 he was made a Privy Counsellor
.
Following his retirement Clark received a life peer
age as Baron Clark of Kempston, of Kempston in the County of Bedfordshire
and was an active contributor to House of Lords
debates. He was married to Irene Rands and had three sons and a daughter.
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.
Clark was educated at Battersea Polytechnic
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
, qualifying in accountancy in 1941. From 1941 until 1946, he 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...
in Britain and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the Royal Ordnance Corps, gaining the rank of major. He became involved in business, particularly in sugar broking, with interests in St Kitts and Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, and in property back in the UK.
In 1949, Clark was elected a councillor on Wandsworth Borough Council
Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth
The Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth was a Metropolitan borough under the London County Council, from 1900 to 1965.The borough was formed from five civil parishes: Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting Graveney and Wandsworth...
, serving until 1953. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to win a seat on the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
and stood without success 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...
in Northampton
Northampton (UK Parliament constituency)
Northampton was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Northampton which existed until 1974.It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until its representation was reduced to one member for the 1918 general election...
.
Clark was elected to Parliament for Nottingham South
Nottingham South (UK Parliament constituency)
Nottingham South is a borough 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....
in 1959, serving on the opposition front bench from 1964 to 1966, the only period in his career. He lost his seat in 1966.
He was subsequently elected MP for East Surrey
East Surrey (UK Parliament constituency)
East Surrey 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....
1970 to 1974 and for its largely successor seat after boundary changes, Croydon South
Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon South is a parliamentary 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...
from 1974 until he retired in 1992. He was active in the 1970s in restoring Conservative Party finances to a sustainable levels. He identified with the right wing of the party and voted against British membership of the Common Market
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
in 1971. He chaired the Conservative backbench Finance Committee from 1979 until 1992, encouraging Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
to pursue financial stability and free enterprise and defending her policies on television and radio. He was knighted in 1980 and in 1990 he was made a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
.
Following his retirement Clark received 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...
age as Baron Clark of Kempston, of Kempston in the County of Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
and was an active contributor to 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....
debates. He was married to Irene Rands and had three sons and a daughter.