John Biffen, 1930-2007.
John Biffen and I first met in 1951 at a Conservative Students' conference at
Swinton in Yorkshire. He was a leading member of the Association in Cambridge University, and was exuberant in his ways, joining in a craze for carrying and waving miniature union jacks at conference sessions. We clashed, I recall, in a debate on a motion urging the creation of a Central African Federation; several people, including myself, tabled an amendment, "provided that there are adequate safeguards to protect all the inhabitants of the territories concerned," (Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, as they were then known). The proposer and supporters, including John Biffen, opposed this move, but the amendment was carried, much to their fury. Then their aim was to kill the revised resolution, and a succession of speakers denounced it as "emasculated nonsense," "rubbish," and"a meaningless contrivance, typical of Conservative Central Office." I believe it was John Biffen who used the second and third epithets. The amended motion was defeated by a single vote, after which an emergency resolution was allowed by the chairman, virtually reinstating the original motion, and it was passed. John was certainly busy then, honing his political skills.
Although we never met again after those student conferences in the early 1950's, I followed his career with interest, and was delighted when he was selected for the safe parliamentary seat of Oswestry. His exuberance certainly led him into right wing ways, and, ultimately, Thatcherism. His sharp wits must have made him formidable in cabinet discussions, so his departure from the Cabinet in 1987, after his attitude towards the government had been described as "semi-detached," was not that surprising. What a wonderful tribute that was to his robust independence.
One other event marked him out as notably honest and principled, his action in
proposing Betty Boothroyd, the Labour M.P. and Deputy Speaker, for the post of Speaker of the House of Commons: in the end, despite some opposition from a number of Tory M.P.'s, he won the day, and she was duly elected, becoming a remarkably fine holder of that office. John Biffen's honesty and forthrightnes combined with those other, more conventional political skills, such as negotiating and reaching compromises, but peaked with the breach with Mrs. Thatcher and the triumph of Betty Boothroyd. He served the country well.
Michael B. Buck.
Swinton in Yorkshire. He was a leading member of the Association in Cambridge University, and was exuberant in his ways, joining in a craze for carrying and waving miniature union jacks at conference sessions. We clashed, I recall, in a debate on a motion urging the creation of a Central African Federation; several people, including myself, tabled an amendment, "provided that there are adequate safeguards to protect all the inhabitants of the territories concerned," (Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, as they were then known). The proposer and supporters, including John Biffen, opposed this move, but the amendment was carried, much to their fury. Then their aim was to kill the revised resolution, and a succession of speakers denounced it as "emasculated nonsense," "rubbish," and"a meaningless contrivance, typical of Conservative Central Office." I believe it was John Biffen who used the second and third epithets. The amended motion was defeated by a single vote, after which an emergency resolution was allowed by the chairman, virtually reinstating the original motion, and it was passed. John was certainly busy then, honing his political skills.
Although we never met again after those student conferences in the early 1950's, I followed his career with interest, and was delighted when he was selected for the safe parliamentary seat of Oswestry. His exuberance certainly led him into right wing ways, and, ultimately, Thatcherism. His sharp wits must have made him formidable in cabinet discussions, so his departure from the Cabinet in 1987, after his attitude towards the government had been described as "semi-detached," was not that surprising. What a wonderful tribute that was to his robust independence.
One other event marked him out as notably honest and principled, his action in
proposing Betty Boothroyd, the Labour M.P. and Deputy Speaker, for the post of Speaker of the House of Commons: in the end, despite some opposition from a number of Tory M.P.'s, he won the day, and she was duly elected, becoming a remarkably fine holder of that office. John Biffen's honesty and forthrightnes combined with those other, more conventional political skills, such as negotiating and reaching compromises, but peaked with the breach with Mrs. Thatcher and the triumph of Betty Boothroyd. He served the country well.
Michael B. Buck.
posted by Michael Buck at 4:45 AM
0 comments
