Ivan Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Sir Ivan John Lawrence, QC
, (born 24 December 1936) is a distinguished criminal barrister and was a British
Conservative
politician
.
at Christ Church, Oxford
. From 1955-57, he did National Service
in the RAF
and served in Malta during the Suez campaign. He was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple
in 1962, Queen's Counsel
in 1981, a Recorder of the Crown Court in 1985, a Bencher of the Inner Temple in 1991, and was knighted in 1992. He has defended in over 80 murder trials, and has appeared in a number of notable criminal trials,for example the Krays (gang-land murders), the serial killer Dennis Nilsen
, Russell Bishop
(Brighton Babes in the Wood murder), the Mountnessing silver bullion robbery, the Brinks Mat gold bullion money-laundering, and a mass-murder war crimes trial at the Hague.
in 1966 and 1970, was elected MP
for Burton
in February 1974
. He held the seat until May 1997
when he lost to Labour's
Janet Dean
. He was Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee from 1992 to 1997 and was Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (UK Branch) from 1995 to 1997. He was a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee from 1982 to 1992, and served on a number of other Parliamentary Committees concerned with health, employment, social services and law and order. He was a member of the executive committee of Conservative backbenchers (1922 Committee) for a number of years. His Private Members Bill in 1991 instigated the national lottery, and in 1985 he made the longest speech in Parliament that century (on the Water Fluoridation Bill).
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...
, (born 24 December 1936) is a distinguished criminal barrister and was a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
Conservative
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Early life
Lawrence was educated at the former Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School and is President of the School's Old Boys' Association. He read jurisprudenceJurisprudence
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...
at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. From 1955-57, he did National Service
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and served in Malta during the Suez campaign. He was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple
Inner 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...
in 1962, 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...
in 1981, a Recorder of the Crown Court in 1985, a Bencher of the Inner Temple in 1991, and was knighted in 1992. He has defended in over 80 murder trials, and has appeared in a number of notable criminal trials,for example the Krays (gang-land murders), the serial killer Dennis Nilsen
Dennis Nilsen
Dennis Andrew Nilsen also known as the Muswell Hill Murderer and the Kindly Killer is a British serial killer who lived in London....
, Russell Bishop
Russell Bishop
Russell Bishop may refer to:* Russell Bishop , Professor of Māori Education at the University of Waikato* Russell Bishop , convicted sex offender...
(Brighton Babes in the Wood murder), the Mountnessing silver bullion robbery, the Brinks Mat gold bullion money-laundering, and a mass-murder war crimes trial at the Hague.
Parliamentary career
Lawrence, having twice unsuccessfully stood for the Peckham constituencyPeckham (UK Parliament constituency)
Peckham was a borough constituency in South London which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in 1966 and 1970, was elected MP
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,...
for Burton
Burton (UK Parliament constituency)
Burton 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.-Boundaries:...
in February 1974
United Kingdom general election, February 1974
The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...
. He held the seat until May 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
when he lost to Labour's
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...
Janet Dean
Janet Dean
Janet Elizabeth Ann Dean is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Burton from 1997 to 2010....
. He was Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee from 1992 to 1997 and was Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (UK Branch) from 1995 to 1997. He was a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee from 1982 to 1992, and served on a number of other Parliamentary Committees concerned with health, employment, social services and law and order. He was a member of the executive committee of Conservative backbenchers (1922 Committee) for a number of years. His Private Members Bill in 1991 instigated the national lottery, and in 1985 he made the longest speech in Parliament that century (on the Water Fluoridation Bill).