Terry Pitt
Encyclopedia
Terence John Pitt was a British
political researcher and adviser. He became well known behind the scenes as the long-serving head of the Labour Party
's research department, and worked for other bodies. In 1984 he made the move into elected politics as a Member of the European Parliament
but died only two years later at the age of 49.
, an urban part of Staffordshire
near to Walsall
; he attended Queen Mary's School in Walsall and then went on to Birmingham College of Advanced Technology
where he studied science. While a student he was active in student politics, including the National Union of Students. In 1963 he contributed to a book on "Nuclear Power Technology" edited by F.J. Pearson.
, Pitt had joined the Research Department under Peter Shore
before the 1964 general election
. When Shore was elected to Parliament in the election, Pitt applied for the post of Head of the Research Department. He was appointed early in 1965, after an internal candidate who was favourite for the role resigned on being told that it would not be expanded and salaries would not be raised. The Research Department had a small staff and a crucial role as a new general election was likely to follow within a short period.
Pitt played a key role in running the Labour Party's campaign in the 1966 general election
, drafting a manifesto
for January 1966, and sitting on each morning's meeting discussing campaign tactics.
wrote "The Young Meteors" in 1967 identifying the up-and-coming personalities of the late 1960s, he included Pitt as one of them, a favour which Pitt did not appreciate. Pitt was considered as a candidate for the General Secretaryship of the Labour Party in 1968, and considered a frontrunner for Deputy General Secretary early the next year, but was not chosen for either. Later in 1969 Pitt offered himself as a candidate for selection in the safe constituency of Islington East
, obtaining the backing of some Islington councillors, but the association selected instead journalist John Grant
.
, Pitt and his department resisted pressure from Harold Wilson
to tone down socialist policies in the preparation of the new manifesto. He again headed the sub-committee writing the actual manifesto, but at a crucial stage Pitt was taken out of the party's planning when he was selected as the Labour Party candidate for Lichfield and Tamworth
on 21 May 1970. Pitt beat Keith Kyle
and Betty Boothroyd
to the nomination.
Although Labour had won the Lichfield and Tamworth seat by 4,134 votes in 1966, Pitt's late selection and the general swing against Labour (which was particularly strong in the West Midlands) meant that Pitt was defeated by 1,976 votes. Writing in 1971 and reviewing a book about the election campaign, Pitt identified a fall in the Labour vote as the reason the party lost, and speculated that it was either the impact of Government measures leading Labour voters to abstain or that Labour voters assumed that victory was certain and failed to vote. Others commented on the similarity of unattributed quotes in the book to opinions which had been voiced by Pitt, implying that he was a key source.
in 1971. He moved to the left during the period after 1970, and in spring 1972 he produced a 40,000 word policy statement for the Labour Party which was poorly received by senior spokesmen. Early in 1973 a strategy document written by Pitt was leaked to London evening newspapers; it included a pledge that public expenditure would rise rapidly but no-one earning less than £50 a week (one and a half times average industrial earnings) should have to pay increased taxes.
Later the Research Department's publication of a policy statement calling for nationalisation of the top 25 companies caused a political storm; Pitt defended the statement, asserting that it would not require increased taxation. James Callaghan
criticised the Research Department for producing too much policy and not making enough effort to promote existing proposals.
, Edward Short
; he was succeeded as head of the Research Department by Geoff Bish. His role was to prepare a White paper
on devolution
to Scotland
and Wales
. However, Pitt resigned in October 1974, a decision said to be motivated by his reluctance to be a civil servant
for a lengthy period. After leaving he denounced the Civil Service as a "status quo organisation" that would not "pursue any sort of radical policy".
was traced to Australia
, and his constituency party called on him to resign; Pitt was said to be the frontrunner for the selection in Walsall North. However Stonehouse refused to resign, and the delayed selection eventually chose David Winnick
instead. In 1978 Pitt contributed to John Mackintosh
's book "People and Parliament".
, working overseas for three years. He returned to the United Kingdom
in 1981 to be Senior Adviser on Economic Development to the Labour-run West Midlands County Council
. At the 1984 election to the European Parliament, Pitt was selected as Labour candidate for Midlands West, a constituency which included the towns of Dudley
and Wolverhampton
; he won the seat by 19,685 votes.
Pitt was appointed to the Committee on Budgets, and became the spokesman on budgets for the Labour group of Members. In March 1986 he protested at the European Communities' sale of 750,000 tonnes of beef
to non-member countries at discounted prices, complaining that it had cost £500m in subsidies and £320m in storage costs. He also sat on the Delegation for relations with Australia
and New Zealand
.
in Birmingham
, and was taken to East Birmingham hospital. He died there later that day at the age of 49. The circumstances required an inquest
which found that death was caused by Pitt choking
on chewing gum
. He had taken up using nicotine
-replacement gum after giving up smoking
. The inquest also found that Pitt had a heart condition which could have killed him at any time and returned a verdict of accidental death.
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...
political researcher and adviser. He became well known behind the scenes as the long-serving head of the Labour Party
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...
's research department, and worked for other bodies. In 1984 he made the move into elected politics as a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
but died only two years later at the age of 49.
Education
Pitt was born in WillenhallWillenhall
Willenhall is a town in the Black Country area of the West Midlands of England, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of Staffordshire...
, an urban part of Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
near to Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
; he attended Queen Mary's School in Walsall and then went on to Birmingham College of Advanced Technology
Aston University
Aston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Aston was granted its Royal Charter as Aston University on 22 April 1966...
where he studied science. While a student he was active in student politics, including the National Union of Students. In 1963 he contributed to a book on "Nuclear Power Technology" edited by F.J. Pearson.
Labour Party Head of Research
As a committed supporter of the Labour PartyLabour 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...
, Pitt had joined the Research Department under Peter Shore
Peter Shore
Peter David Shore, Baron Shore of Stepney PC was a British Labour politician and former Cabinet Minister, noted in part for his opposition to the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community. His idiosyncratic left-wing nationalism led to comparison with the French politician...
before the 1964 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1964
The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
. When Shore was elected to Parliament in the election, Pitt applied for the post of Head of the Research Department. He was appointed early in 1965, after an internal candidate who was favourite for the role resigned on being told that it would not be expanded and salaries would not be raised. The Research Department had a small staff and a crucial role as a new general election was likely to follow within a short period.
Pitt played a key role in running the Labour Party's campaign in the 1966 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1966
The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs...
, drafting a manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
for January 1966, and sitting on each morning's meeting discussing campaign tactics.
Promotion prospects
When Jonathan AitkenJonathan Aitken
Jonathan William Patrick Aitken is a former Conservative Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, and British government minister. He was convicted of perjury in 1999 and received an 18-month prison sentence, of which he served seven months...
wrote "The Young Meteors" in 1967 identifying the up-and-coming personalities of the late 1960s, he included Pitt as one of them, a favour which Pitt did not appreciate. Pitt was considered as a candidate for the General Secretaryship of the Labour Party in 1968, and considered a frontrunner for Deputy General Secretary early the next year, but was not chosen for either. Later in 1969 Pitt offered himself as a candidate for selection in the safe constituency of Islington East
Islington East (UK Parliament constituency)
Islington East was a constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885, until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election.-1885–1918:...
, obtaining the backing of some Islington councillors, but the association selected instead journalist John Grant
John Grant (British politician)
John Douglas Grant was a British Member of Parliament from 1970 to 1983. He was as a member of the Labour until he left in 1981 to join the new Social Democratic Party . He represented Islington East from 1970 to 1974 and Islington Central from 1974-1983.Grant was born in Finsbury Park, North London...
.
1970 election
In the run-up to the 1970 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1970
The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on 18 June 1970, and resulted in a surprise victory for the Conservative Party under leader Edward Heath, who defeated the Labour Party under Harold Wilson. The election also saw the Liberal Party and its new leader Jeremy Thorpe lose half their...
, Pitt and his department resisted pressure from Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
to tone down socialist policies in the preparation of the new manifesto. He again headed the sub-committee writing the actual manifesto, but at a crucial stage Pitt was taken out of the party's planning when he was selected as the Labour Party candidate for Lichfield and Tamworth
Lichfield and Tamworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Lichfield and Tamworth was a parliamentary constituency centred on the towns of Lichfield and Tamworth in Staffordshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.-History:The constituency was...
on 21 May 1970. Pitt beat Keith Kyle
Keith Kyle
Keith Kyle was a British writer, broadcaster and historian.Educated at Bromsgrove School and Magdalen College, Oxford University, where his period as an undergraduate was broken by war service. He worked for the BBC North American Service as a talks producer, succeeding Tony Benn in 1951...
and Betty Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd, OM, PC is a British politician, who served as Member of Parliament for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000, initially for the Labour Party and, from 1992 to 2000, as Speaker of the House of Commons...
to the nomination.
Although Labour had won the Lichfield and Tamworth seat by 4,134 votes in 1966, Pitt's late selection and the general swing against Labour (which was particularly strong in the West Midlands) meant that Pitt was defeated by 1,976 votes. Writing in 1971 and reviewing a book about the election campaign, Pitt identified a fall in the Labour vote as the reason the party lost, and speculated that it was either the impact of Government measures leading Labour voters to abstain or that Labour voters assumed that victory was certain and failed to vote. Others commented on the similarity of unattributed quotes in the book to opinions which had been voiced by Pitt, implying that he was a key source.
Policy documents
Pitt continued his search for a Parliamentary seat, being defeated in the selection for CannockCannock (UK Parliament constituency)
Cannock was a parliamentary constituency in Staffordshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election.- Members of Parliament :...
in 1971. He moved to the left during the period after 1970, and in spring 1972 he produced a 40,000 word policy statement for the Labour Party which was poorly received by senior spokesmen. Early in 1973 a strategy document written by Pitt was leaked to London evening newspapers; it included a pledge that public expenditure would rise rapidly but no-one earning less than £50 a week (one and a half times average industrial earnings) should have to pay increased taxes.
Later the Research Department's publication of a policy statement calling for nationalisation of the top 25 companies caused a political storm; Pitt defended the statement, asserting that it would not require increased taxation. James Callaghan
James Callaghan
Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC , was a British Labour politician, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980...
criticised the Research Department for producing too much policy and not making enough effort to promote existing proposals.
Special Adviser
After the Labour Party returned to government in 1974, Pitt was appointed Special Adviser to Lord President of the CouncilLord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
, Edward Short
Edward Short, Baron Glenamara
Edward Watson Short, Baron Glenamara, CH PC is a former Labour Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, England. He was a minister during the Labour Governments of Harold Wilson...
; he was succeeded as head of the Research Department by Geoff Bish. His role was to prepare a White paper
White paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
on devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. However, Pitt resigned in October 1974, a decision said to be motivated by his reluctance to be a civil servant
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
for a lengthy period. After leaving he denounced the Civil Service as a "status quo organisation" that would not "pursue any sort of radical policy".
Walsall North selection
After leaving the Civil Service, Pitt became a freelance writer and consultant on government affairs. Pitt had another chance to get into Parliament in early 1975 when the disappearing Labour MP John StonehouseJohn Stonehouse
John Thomson Stonehouse was a British politician and minister under Harold Wilson. Stonehouse is perhaps best remembered for his unsuccessful attempt at faking his own death in 1974...
was traced to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and his constituency party called on him to resign; Pitt was said to be the frontrunner for the selection in Walsall North. However Stonehouse refused to resign, and the delayed selection eventually chose David Winnick
David Winnick
David Julian Winnick is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Walsall North since 1979....
instead. In 1978 Pitt contributed to John Mackintosh
John Mackintosh
John Pitcairn Mackintosh was a British Labour Party politician known for his defence of devolution and the concept of dual nationality; that Scots could be both Scottish and British....
's book "People and Parliament".
Later career
In 1978 Pitt became a founding director of the Institute of National Affairs of Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, working overseas for three years. He returned to 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...
in 1981 to be Senior Adviser on Economic Development to the Labour-run West Midlands County Council
West Midlands County Council
The West Midlands County Council was, from 1974 to 1986, the upper-tier administrative body for the West Midlands county, a metropolitan county in England....
. At the 1984 election to the European Parliament, Pitt was selected as Labour candidate for Midlands West, a constituency which included the towns of Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
and Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
; he won the seat by 19,685 votes.
Pitt was appointed to the Committee on Budgets, and became the spokesman on budgets for the Labour group of Members. In March 1986 he protested at the European Communities' sale of 750,000 tonnes of beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
to non-member countries at discounted prices, complaining that it had cost £500m in subsidies and £320m in storage costs. He also sat on the Delegation for relations with Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Death
On 3 October 1986 Pitt collapsed in a taxiTaxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and was taken to East Birmingham hospital. He died there later that day at the age of 49. The circumstances required an inquest
Inquest
Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden and unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove"...
which found that death was caused by Pitt choking
Choking
Choking is the mechanical obstruction of the flow of air from the environment into the lungs. Choking prevents breathing, and can be partial or complete, with partial choking allowing some, although inadequate, flow of air into the lungs. Prolonged or complete choking results in asphyxia which...
on chewing gum
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. For economical and quality reasons, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle...
. He had taken up using nicotine
Nicotine
Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants that constitutes approximately 0.6–3.0% of the dry weight of tobacco, with biosynthesis taking place in the roots and accumulation occurring in the leaves...
-replacement gum after giving up smoking
Smoking
Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or cannabis, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. This is primarily practised as a route of administration for recreational drug use, as combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them...
. The inquest also found that Pitt had a heart condition which could have killed him at any time and returned a verdict of accidental death.