Roy Thomason
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Roy Thomason, known as Roy Thomason, OBE
(born 14 December 1944) is a British
Conservative Party
politician
who was a local government leader and served one term as a Member of Parliament
.
in Oxford
and trained as a Solicitor at the College of Law
, being admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 1969. He practiced in Bournemouth
and was elected to Bournemouth Council in 1970. From 1974 to 1982 he was the Leader of the Council, and he was made a delegate to the Council of the Association of District Councils in 1979. Thomason was made Chairman of the Conservative Party's Local Government Advisory Committee in 1980 and became Leader of the Conservative Group on the Association of District Councils the next year, serving until 1984 and 1987 respectively. In 1986 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to local government.
Executive, a Conservative body which administered the party. He was selected to follow Sir Hal Miller
as candidate for the safe seat of Bromsgrove
, and won the seat with a 13,702 majority in the 1992 election
. Thomason was one of 26 new Conservative MPs to sign an Early Day Motion
put down by Eurosceptic
s calling for a "fresh start" in Britain's negotiations with the European Communities
, but was not a hardened eurosceptic and signed an open letter calling for support for the 'paving motion' on the Maastricht Treaty
in November 1992.
On social issues Thomason was mildly progressive, supporting a reduction in the age of consent
for gay sex to 18 rather than equalising it with the heterosexual age at 16. He resigned from the Carlton Club
in December 1994 at a time of a dispute over the admission of women, although newspapers suspected this was because he could not justify the cost of membership.
reported that nursing home companies under Thomason's control were "in dire financial trouble", owing large sums in taxes and other debts after the collapse of the property market. The newspaper speculated that Thomason may have given financial guarantees which, if called in, would result in his bankruptcy
and therefore his disqualification from Parliament. While the Conservative whips tried to persuade the banks not to pursue Thomason, the Bromsgrove Conservative Association summoned him and his wife (to whom he had transferred his directorships in 1992) to an emergency meeting. On 9 June the Association gave its full backing to its member.
In February 1996, the Sunday Times
reported that Lord Younger
, a former cabinet minister then Chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland
, had personally intervened in November 1995 to prevent a French bank from calling in a debt from Thomason which would have resulted in his bankruptcy. His debts were then estimated at £6.2 million, and part of the deal was said to be that the interest would be paid by party sources. That May it was reported that other creditors were pressing for payment, and the local association told him to sort out his financial affairs by 1 September or face a contested reselection.
ruled that the loans he had received to help him stave off bankruptcy were a declarable interest which he should have revealed. The Commissioner, Sir Gordon Downey
, found that the banks had taken political considerations into account when making arrangements. Having not resolved his financial situation, on 3 September the Bromsgrove Conservative Association voted to open the selection to other applicants - in effect signalling their loss of confidence in Thomason. On 18 September, Thomason decided he would not offer himself as a candidate for reselection and would stand down as an MP.
, Thomason went back into business management and is currently executive chairman of the Charminster group of property companies. He has also served as chairman of London Strategic Housing, a Housing Association.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 14 December 1944) is a British
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who was a local government leader and served one term as 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,...
.
Local government experience
Thomason was educated at Cheney SchoolCheney School
Cheney School is a secondary school located in Headington, Oxford, England.-Current:Cheney is currently one of the largest comprehensive schools in Oxford, serving the Headington and East Oxford area. It is the destination for students from numerous primary schools across the city...
in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and trained as a Solicitor at the College of Law
The College of Law
The College of Law of England and Wales is a private educational institution in England and a registered charity which provides legal education for students and professionals.-20th century:...
, being admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 1969. He practiced in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
and was elected to Bournemouth Council in 1970. From 1974 to 1982 he was the Leader of the Council, and he was made a delegate to the Council of the Association of District Councils in 1979. Thomason was made Chairman of the Conservative Party's Local Government Advisory Committee in 1980 and became Leader of the Conservative Group on the Association of District Councils the next year, serving until 1984 and 1987 respectively. In 1986 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to local government.
Parliament
Between 1988 and 1991 Thomason served on the National Union of Conservative and Unionist AssociationsNational Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations
The National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations was a federation of the voluntary wing of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom....
Executive, a Conservative body which administered the party. He was selected to follow Sir Hal Miller
Hal Miller
Sir Hilary Duppa "Hal" Miller , known as Hal Miller, is a British Conservative Party politician.Educated at Eton College, Miller graduated from Merton College, Oxford in 1956 and the University of London in 1962...
as candidate for the safe seat of Bromsgrove
Bromsgrove (UK Parliament constituency)
Bromsgrove 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 voting system...
, and won the seat with a 13,702 majority in the 1992 election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
. Thomason was one of 26 new Conservative MPs to sign an Early Day Motion
Early day motion
An Early Day Motion , in the Westminster system, is a motion, expressed as a single sentence, tabled by Members of Parliament for debate "on an early day" . Controversial EDMs are not signed by Government Ministers, PPS or the Speaker of the House of Commons and very few are debated on the floor...
put down by Eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
s calling for a "fresh start" in Britain's negotiations with the European Communities
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...
, but was not a hardened eurosceptic and signed an open letter calling for support for the 'paving motion' on the Maastricht Treaty
Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty...
in November 1992.
On social issues Thomason was mildly progressive, supporting a reduction in the age of consent
Age of consent
While the phrase age of consent typically does not appear in legal statutes, when used in relation to sexual activity, the age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts. The European Union calls it the legal age for sexual...
for gay sex to 18 rather than equalising it with the heterosexual age at 16. He resigned from the Carlton Club
Carlton Club
The Carlton Club is a gentlemen's club in London which describes itself as the "oldest, most elite, and most important of all Conservative clubs." Membership of the club is by nomination and election only.-History:...
in December 1994 at a time of a dispute over the admission of women, although newspapers suspected this was because he could not justify the cost of membership.
Financial trouble
On 28 May 1995, The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reported that nursing home companies under Thomason's control were "in dire financial trouble", owing large sums in taxes and other debts after the collapse of the property market. The newspaper speculated that Thomason may have given financial guarantees which, if called in, would result in his bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and therefore his disqualification from Parliament. While the Conservative whips tried to persuade the banks not to pursue Thomason, the Bromsgrove Conservative Association summoned him and his wife (to whom he had transferred his directorships in 1992) to an emergency meeting. On 9 June the Association gave its full backing to its member.
In February 1996, the Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
reported that Lord Younger
George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie
George Kenneth Hotson Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie KT KCVO TD PC was a British politician and banker....
, a former cabinet minister then Chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is a British banking and insurance holding company in which the UK Government holds an 84% stake. This stake is held and managed through UK Financial Investments Limited, whose voting rights are limited to 75% in order for the bank to retain its listing on the...
, had personally intervened in November 1995 to prevent a French bank from calling in a debt from Thomason which would have resulted in his bankruptcy. His debts were then estimated at £6.2 million, and part of the deal was said to be that the interest would be paid by party sources. That May it was reported that other creditors were pressing for payment, and the local association told him to sort out his financial affairs by 1 September or face a contested reselection.
Decision to stand down
Thomason's political difficulties intensified in July when the House of Commons Select Committee on Standards and PrivilegesCommittee on Standards and Privileges
The Standards and Privileges Committee of the United Kingdom House of Commons was established in 1995 to replace the earlier Committee of Privileges...
ruled that the loans he had received to help him stave off bankruptcy were a declarable interest which he should have revealed. The Commissioner, Sir Gordon Downey
Gordon Downey
Sir Gordon Downey was Britain's first Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was set up by the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in 1995 as a result of recommendations made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life...
, found that the banks had taken political considerations into account when making arrangements. Having not resolved his financial situation, on 3 September the Bromsgrove Conservative Association voted to open the selection to other applicants - in effect signalling their loss of confidence in Thomason. On 18 September, Thomason decided he would not offer himself as a candidate for reselection and would stand down as an MP.
Subsequent career
After the 1997 electionUnited 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...
, Thomason went back into business management and is currently executive chairman of the Charminster group of property companies. He has also served as chairman of London Strategic Housing, a Housing Association.
External links
- Court judgment of 2005 relating to Thomason's financial difficulties
- Tufnol Composites