Denis Keegan
Encyclopedia
Denis Michael Keegan was a British
barrister and company manager who served a single term as a Conservative Party
Member of Parliament
. He became known as a moderate politician who opposed capital punishment
and restrictions on immigration. He left Parliament to represent small retailers who sold television and radio sets.
in Northamptonshire
; When he finished at school, instead of a British university Keegan went to Queen's University
at Kingston, Ontario
. In 1944 he returned from Canada to join the Fleet Air Arm
as a pilot, with a petty officer
rank.
by Gray's Inn
. He practised mainly in Nottingham
, where he became politically active in the Conservative Party
. Keegan was elected as a Conservative to Nottingham City Council
in 1953. Keegan's responsibilities on the council included serving on the National Council of Social Service. He also became a member of the Home Office
advisory panel on juvenile delinquency.
, Keegan was chosen as Conservative candidate for Nottingham South
. This division, which Labour had won with a slender 482 majority in the previous election, had been subject to boundary changes which were thought to make it easier for Labour in the long run as the Clifton housing estate had been added. However Keegan was optimistic, pointing to Conservative successes in municipal elections in which they had been only two votes behind Labour across the division. In fact, Keegan went on to record a surprising victory with a majority of 7,053..
in a debate on capital punishment in March 1956, supporting Sydney Silverman
's attempt to abolish hanging. He argued that abolition was not "a lot of sentimental ninnies who did not know what they were doing", but that instead supporters of hanging allowed sentiment to deter them from examining statistics in a proper frame of mind. However, he did want some assurance that with the abolition of hanging, there was no danger to public safety. Keegan was in a minority in the Conservative Party in supporting abolition. Silverman's Bill was passed but rejected by the House of Lords
; when the Government then brought in the compromise Homicide Bill
restricting the use of capital punishment, Keegan felt he could support it.
to prevent the press from behaving in this way. Keegan also spoke to oppose restrictions on Commonwealth immigration in principle.
agreements. He found that this job took up an increasing amount of his time, but it was profitable work with the increase in television production during the 1950s. Keegan eventually decided to leave Parliament to concentrate on his business career.
of Granada Television
for arguing against 625 line colour television because ITA stations were restricted to 405 lines, arguing that Bernstein should instead campaign for an early changeover of ITA programmes to 625 lines so that television did not become obsolete. In 1967 he speculated that constant expansion of the BBC
would lead to the corporation applying for permission to run advertising.
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 company manager who served a single term as a 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...
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,...
. He became known as a moderate politician who opposed 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...
and restrictions on immigration. He left Parliament to represent small retailers who sold television and radio sets.
Education
Keegan was the only son of Denis Francis Keegan, a member of the Indian Civil Service. He was sent to Oundle SchoolOundle School
Oundle School is a co-educational British public school located in the ancient market town of Oundle in Northamptonshire. The school has been maintained by the Worshipful Company of Grocers of the City of London since its foundation in 1556. Oundle has eight boys' houses, five girls' houses, a day...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
; When he finished at school, instead of a British university Keegan went to Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
at Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. In 1944 he returned from Canada to join the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
as a pilot, with a petty officer
Petty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
rank.
Legal career
After leaving the Fleet Air Arm, Keegan trained in the law and in 1950 was called to the BarCall to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
by Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, 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...
. He practised mainly in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, where he became politically active in the 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...
. Keegan was elected as a Conservative to Nottingham City Council
Nottingham City Council
Nottingham City Council is the non-metropolitan district council for the unitary authority of Nottingham in Nottinghamshire. It consists of 55 councillors, representing a total of 20 wards, elected every four years. It is led by Jon Collins, of the majority Labour Party. The deputy leader of the...
in 1953. Keegan's responsibilities on the council included serving on the National Council of Social Service. He also became a member of the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
advisory panel on juvenile delinquency.
1955 general election
For the 1955 general electionUnited 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...
, Keegan was chosen as Conservative candidate 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....
. This division, which Labour had won with a slender 482 majority in the previous election, had been subject to boundary changes which were thought to make it easier for Labour in the long run as the Clifton housing estate had been added. However Keegan was optimistic, pointing to Conservative successes in municipal elections in which they had been only two votes behind Labour across the division. In fact, Keegan went on to record a surprising victory with a majority of 7,053..
Capital punishment
Keegan made his maiden speechMaiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
in a debate on capital punishment in March 1956, supporting Sydney Silverman
Sydney Silverman
Samuel Sydney Silverman was a British Labour politician and vocal opponent of capital punishment.-Early life:...
's attempt to abolish hanging. He argued that abolition was not "a lot of sentimental ninnies who did not know what they were doing", but that instead supporters of hanging allowed sentiment to deter them from examining statistics in a proper frame of mind. However, he did want some assurance that with the abolition of hanging, there was no danger to public safety. Keegan was in a minority in the Conservative Party in supporting abolition. Silverman's Bill was passed but rejected by 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....
; when the Government then brought in the compromise Homicide Bill
Homicide Act 1957
The Homicide Act 1957 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was enacted as a partial reform of the common law offence of murder in English law by abolishing the doctrine of constructive malice , reforming the partial defence of provocation, and by introducing the partial defences...
restricting the use of capital punishment, Keegan felt he could support it.
Immigration
He remained an active Barrister, often appearing for the defence in criminal cases while serving as a Member of Parliament. He specialised in criminal justice issues in Parliament and In May 1957 he took up the case of a life sentence prisoner who was allowed to attend the funeral of a close relation but chose not to out of fear of the press; Keegan urged Home Secretary R.A. ButlerRab Butler
Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG CH DL PC , who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British Conservative politician...
to prevent the press from behaving in this way. Keegan also spoke to oppose restrictions on Commonwealth immigration in principle.
Television retailers
Keegan also became involved in business, and was made Director of the Radio and Television Retailers' Association while serving as an MP. He led a delegation on behalf of the association to call on the Board of Trade to remove restrictions on hire purchaseHire purchase
Hire purchase is the legal term for a contract, in this persons usually agree to pay for goods in parts or a percentage at a time. It was developed in the United Kingdom and can now be found in China, Japan, Malaysia, India, South Africa, Australia, Jamaica and New Zealand. It is also called...
agreements. He found that this job took up an increasing amount of his time, but it was profitable work with the increase in television production during the 1950s. Keegan eventually decided to leave Parliament to concentrate on his business career.
Colour television
After leaving Parliament, Keegan pressed the Government for an early decision on which line standards to adopt for colour television. He criticised Sidney BernsteinSidney Bernstein, Baron Bernstein
Sidney Lewis Bernstein, Baron Bernstein was a British media baron who was known as the founding chairman of the London-based Granada Group and the founder of the Manchester-based Granada Television in 1954....
of Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
for arguing against 625 line colour television because ITA stations were restricted to 405 lines, arguing that Bernstein should instead campaign for an early changeover of ITA programmes to 625 lines so that television did not become obsolete. In 1967 he speculated that constant expansion of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
would lead to the corporation applying for permission to run advertising.