Edward du Cann
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Dillon Lott du Cann (born 28 May 1924) is a retired politician
from the United Kingdom
. He was a Member of Parliament
(MP) from 1956–87, and served as Chairman of the Conservative Party
from 1965–67, and Chairman of party's 1922 Committee
from 1972-84.
Du Cann was educated at Colet Court
, Woodbridge School
and St. John's College, Oxford, where he was a friend of Kingsley Amis
. He then became a company director. In 1951, du Cann contested Walthamstow West
without success, and failed to win at Barrow-in-Furness in 1955. He was elected as MP for Taunton
in a 1956 by-election
.
Du Cann served as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury
from 1962, and as a Minister of State
at the Board of Trade
1963-64. He was then the Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1965–67, and Chairman of the 1922 Committee from 1972-84. He was Appointed as a Member of the Privy Council
in 1964.
Two years into his Chairmanship of the 1922 Committee, du Cann played an influential part in the events surrounding the elevation of Margaret Thatcher
to the leadership of the Conservative Party. Following two narrow defeats for the Conservatives at the polls in February and October 1974, significant disquiet in the party had developed over the leadership of Edward Heath
, who had now lost three elections as leader. This was given direction on 14 October 1974, when the executive of the 1922 Committee met at du Cann's home amidst a good deal of press attention. This was soon followed by a more public meeting of the executive at Du Cann's offices at Keyser Ullman on Milk Street where it was decided that the Committee would press Heath to hold a leadership election. The location of this meeting led to Fleet Street nicknaming the attendees, "The Milk Street Mafia." As Alec Douglas Home, at Heath's request, considered the procedures for a leadership election, there was some speculation that du Cann would himself stand as a representative of the party's right-wing against Heath.
However, by the time Douglas Home reported back in December 1974, events had intervened. The devastating collapse of the banking boom had swept up du Cann's firm, Keyser Ullman, in its path and du Cann did not put himself forward as a candidate in the leadership contest. This released key support for Margaret Thatcher, especially as another potential right-wing candidate, Keith Joseph
, had already withdrawn from any leadership calculations following a series of controversial speeches on social policy. Consequently, after defeating Heath in the first round, Thatcher emerged triumphant in the second round in early 1975, defeating a number of other candidates who would play significant roles in her subsequent premiership.
In the last week of the 1975 referendum on British membership of the European Economic Community
, du Cann came out against British membership. He was chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 1974-79.
Du Cann retired from the House of Commons
in 1987, and sold his home Cothay Manor
in 1993 to return to live in London
. He was instrumental in creating a scholarship programme for rugby league
players at the University of Oxford
.
Du Cann succeeded Lord Duncan-Sandys
as Chairman of Lonrho, a position from which he was forced to resign due to his role as deputy chairman of Homes Assured, a finance company which crashed. His resignation came two days before the company collapsed, owing £10 million to creditors. He was criticized as "incompetent" by a 1974 Department of Trade and Industry report regarding the bankrupt Keyser Ullman bank, of which he was a director.
Du Cann has been involved in several legal disputes over debts, his Somerset estate was repossessed in 1992, and his London flat was repossessed in 1993. He later had a bankruptcy order served against him.
He is a board member of E-Clear
, a British payment processing company, which went into administration in January 2010.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the United Kingdom
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...
. He was a 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) from 1956–87, and served as Chairman of the Conservative Party
Chairman of the Conservative Party
In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Conservative Party is responsible for running the party machine, overseeing Conservative Central Office. When the Conservatives are in power, the Chairman is usually a member of the Cabinet being given a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio...
from 1965–67, and Chairman of party's 1922 Committee
1922 Committee
In British politics, the 1922 Committee is a committee of Conservative Members of Parliament. Voting membership is limited to backbench MPs although frontbench Conservative MPs have an open invitation to attend meetings. While the party was in opposition, frontbench MPs other than the party leader...
from 1972-84.
Du Cann was educated at Colet Court
Colet Court
Colet Court is a preparatory school for boys aged 7 to 13 in Barnes, London. It forms the preparatory department of St Paul's School, to which most Colet Court pupils go at the age of 13.-History:...
, Woodbridge School
Woodbridge School
Woodbridge School is an independent school in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, founded in 1577, for the poor of Woodbridge. It was later supported by the Seckford Scheme.Woodbridge School has been co-educational since 1975.-History:...
and St. John's College, Oxford, where he was a friend of Kingsley Amis
Kingsley Amis
Sir Kingsley William Amis, CBE was an English novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of poetry, a memoir, various short stories, radio and television scripts, along with works of social and literary criticism...
. He then became a company director. In 1951, du Cann contested Walthamstow West
Walthamstow West (UK Parliament constituency)
Walthamstow West was a borough constituency in what is now the London Borough of Waltham Forest, but was until 1965 the Walthamstow Urban District of Essex...
without success, and failed to win at Barrow-in-Furness in 1955. He was elected as MP for Taunton
Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)
Taunton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset...
in a 1956 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
.
Du Cann served as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury
Economic Secretary to the Treasury
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury is the fifth most senior ministerial post in the UK Treasury, after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Paymaster-General and the Financial Secretary...
from 1962, and as a Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
at the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
1963-64. He was then the Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1965–67, and Chairman of the 1922 Committee from 1972-84. He was Appointed as a Member of the Privy Council
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...
in 1964.
Two years into his Chairmanship of the 1922 Committee, du Cann played an influential part in the events surrounding the elevation of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
to the leadership of the Conservative Party. Following two narrow defeats for the Conservatives at the polls in February and October 1974, significant disquiet in the party had developed over the leadership of Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
, who had now lost three elections as leader. This was given direction on 14 October 1974, when the executive of the 1922 Committee met at du Cann's home amidst a good deal of press attention. This was soon followed by a more public meeting of the executive at Du Cann's offices at Keyser Ullman on Milk Street where it was decided that the Committee would press Heath to hold a leadership election. The location of this meeting led to Fleet Street nicknaming the attendees, "The Milk Street Mafia." As Alec Douglas Home, at Heath's request, considered the procedures for a leadership election, there was some speculation that du Cann would himself stand as a representative of the party's right-wing against Heath.
However, by the time Douglas Home reported back in December 1974, events had intervened. The devastating collapse of the banking boom had swept up du Cann's firm, Keyser Ullman, in its path and du Cann did not put himself forward as a candidate in the leadership contest. This released key support for Margaret Thatcher, especially as another potential right-wing candidate, Keith Joseph
Keith Joseph
Keith St John Joseph, Baron Joseph, Bt, CH, PC , was a British barrister and politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under three Prime Ministers , and is widely regarded to have been the "power behind the throne" in the creation of what came to be known as...
, had already withdrawn from any leadership calculations following a series of controversial speeches on social policy. Consequently, after defeating Heath in the first round, Thatcher emerged triumphant in the second round in early 1975, defeating a number of other candidates who would play significant roles in her subsequent premiership.
In the last week of the 1975 referendum on British membership of the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
, du Cann came out against British membership. He was chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 1974-79.
Du Cann retired 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...
in 1987, and sold his home Cothay Manor
Cothay Manor
Cothay Manor is a grade one listed medieval house and gardens, located in Stawley, near Wellington, Somerset.In early 14th century the local lords of the manor were the Bluett and Cothay families who owned both the nearby Greenham Barton and Cothay Manor....
in 1993 to return to live in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was instrumental in creating a scholarship programme for rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
players at the University of 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...
.
Du Cann succeeded Lord Duncan-Sandys
Duncan Sandys
Edwin Duncan Sandys, Baron Duncan-Sandys CH PC was a British politician and a minister in successive Conservative governments in the 1950s and 1960s...
as Chairman of Lonrho, a position from which he was forced to resign due to his role as deputy chairman of Homes Assured, a finance company which crashed. His resignation came two days before the company collapsed, owing £10 million to creditors. He was criticized as "incompetent" by a 1974 Department of Trade and Industry report regarding the bankrupt Keyser Ullman bank, of which he was a director.
Du Cann has been involved in several legal disputes over debts, his Somerset estate was repossessed in 1992, and his London flat was repossessed in 1993. He later had a bankruptcy order served against him.
He is a board member of E-Clear
E-Clear
E-Clear is a British payment processing company handling credit card transactions, presently under an administration order. It provides merchant accounts for companies, allowing them to accept credit cards as a form of payment....
, a British payment processing company, which went into administration in January 2010.