Keith Best
Encyclopedia
Keith Lander Best was a former Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
. He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for Anglesey from 1979 (when he gained the seat from Labour
) to 1983, and for (the renamed) Ynys Môn
from 1983 to 1987. He was personal assistant to the Secretary of State for Wales
from 1981 to 1984.
Best was born in Brighton
and educated at Brighton College
and Keble College, Oxford
, before becoming a barrister in 1973. He served in the Territorial Army Royal Artillery
1967–89, reaching the rank of Major
, and as a Brighton Borough councillor 1976–80.
After his election to Parliament, Best's reputation began to suffer when he was involved in a road accident in which his personal assistant was killed, although he was cleared of responsibility for the crash. He eventually stood down after admitting fraud; during the privatisation of British Telecom
, individuals were limited to one allocation of shares. Best was prosecuted and found to have submitted many applications by using minor variations of his name.
On 30 September 1987, he was sentenced to four months imprisonment and fined £3,000. On 5 October 1987, the Court of Appeals ruled that the jail portion of his sentence was too harsh, and Best was released. However, his fine was increased to £4,500. His successor as MP for Ynys Mon was Plaid Cymru
candidate Ieuan Wyn Jones
.
In 2000, Best failed in a bid for re-selection by the Conservative Party in Ynys Môn.
In 1987, he was chosen as the chair of the executive committee of the World Federalist Movement
. He was director of Prisoners Abroad
1989–93.
He was chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service
1993-2009. In 2003, he was named by The Guardian
as one of the 100 most influential people in public services in the UK.
In April 2010 he took up the post of Chief Executive Officer of Freedom from Torture (formerly Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture).
He was Chair of the Council of the Electoral Reform Society
1998-2003 and is Chair of Electoral Reform International Services and of Conservative Action for Electoral Reform
.
He has two daughters: Ophelia Gibson Best, who attends Brighton College, and Phoebe Gibson Best, who attends the Grey Coat Hospital, Westminster.
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 in 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 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) for Anglesey from 1979 (when he gained the seat from Labour
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...
) to 1983, and for (the renamed) Ynys Môn
Ynys Môn (UK Parliament constituency)
Ynys Môn is a constituency of 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 1983 to 1987. He was personal assistant to the Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Wales
The Secretary of State for Wales is the head of the Wales Office within the British cabinet. He or she is responsible for ensuring Welsh interests are taken into account by the government, representing the government within Wales and overseeing the passing of legislation which is only for Wales...
from 1981 to 1984.
Best was born in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and educated at Brighton College
Brighton College
Brighton College is an institution divided between a Senior School known simply as Brighton College, the Prep School and the Pre-Prep School. All of these schools are co-educational independent schools in Brighton, England, sited immediately next to each another. The Senior School caters for...
and Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
, before becoming a barrister in 1973. He served in the Territorial Army Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
1967–89, reaching the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, and as a Brighton Borough councillor 1976–80.
After his election to Parliament, Best's reputation began to suffer when he was involved in a road accident in which his personal assistant was killed, although he was cleared of responsibility for the crash. He eventually stood down after admitting fraud; during the privatisation of British Telecom
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
, individuals were limited to one allocation of shares. Best was prosecuted and found to have submitted many applications by using minor variations of his name.
On 30 September 1987, he was sentenced to four months imprisonment and fined £3,000. On 5 October 1987, the Court of Appeals ruled that the jail portion of his sentence was too harsh, and Best was released. However, his fine was increased to £4,500. His successor as MP for Ynys Mon was Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
candidate Ieuan Wyn Jones
Ieuan Wyn Jones
Ieuan Wyn Jones, AM is a Welsh politician, who was the Deputy First Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government from 2007 until 2011. Jones is the current leader of Plaid Cymru and Member of the National Assembly for Wales for the Ynys Môn constituency...
.
In 2000, Best failed in a bid for re-selection by the Conservative Party in Ynys Môn.
In 1987, he was chosen as the chair of the executive committee of the World Federalist Movement
World Federalist Movement
The World Federalist Movement is a global citizens movement with member and associate organizations around the world. The WFM International Secretariat is based in New York City across from the United Nations headquarters...
. He was director of Prisoners Abroad
Prisoners Abroad
Prisoners Abroad is a UK-registered charity which supports British citizens who are imprisoned overseas. It also works with ex-prisoners returning to the UK and with families members and friends of those detained. The organisation aims to provide for the basic welfare needs of Britons who are held...
1989–93.
He was chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service
Immigration Advisory Service
The Immigration Advisory Service is a UK organisation registered as a charity, providing direct legal assistance to refugees, asylum seekers and others needing advice and guidance around British immigration law. Founded in 1993, it was formed out of the former United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory...
1993-2009. In 2003, he was named by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
as one of the 100 most influential people in public services in the UK.
In April 2010 he took up the post of Chief Executive Officer of Freedom from Torture (formerly Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture).
He was Chair of the Council of the Electoral Reform Society
Electoral Reform Society
The Electoral Reform Society is a political pressure group based in the United Kingdom which promotes electoral reform. It is believed to be the oldest organisation concerned with electoral systems in the world.-Aims:...
1998-2003 and is Chair of Electoral Reform International Services and of Conservative Action for Electoral Reform
Conservative Action for Electoral Reform
Conservative Action for Electoral Reform is a movement within the British Conservative Party for electoral reform, particularly of the first past the post system in House of Commons constituencies. CAER, founded in 1974, believes that the single transferable vote is the best system available. The...
.
He has two daughters: Ophelia Gibson Best, who attends Brighton College, and Phoebe Gibson Best, who attends the Grey Coat Hospital, Westminster.