Sir Edward Lucas Gardner, QC (10 May 1912 – 2 August 2001) was a barrister and BritishConservative Party politician. Upon his death, The Guardian referred to him as 'the last of the pre-war-style Conservative QC-MPs'.[1]
Gardner married Nina Collins in 1950 (having one son, one daughter) but was divorced in 1962. Then in 1963, he married Joan Belcher (also having one son, one daughter); this second marriage lasting until Joan's death in 1999. Gardner died in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire on 2 August 2001 aged 89.
Gardner served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, surviving the sinking of two ships. In 1945 he was appointed a Commander in the RNVR and Chief of Naval Information (East Indies).
He was a leading member of the Society of Conservative Lawyers, chairman of its executive committee from 1969 to 1975, and Chairman, 1975–85. Under his guidance, the society produced a steady flow of influential pamphlets on suggested changes to the criminal law. He chaired the committees that produced Rough Justice, a statement on the future of the law, in 1968, Crisis in Crime and Punishment (1971) and The Proper Use of Prisons (1978).
Political careeredit
Gardner contested Erith and Crayford in 1955. He was Member of Parliament for Billericay from 1959 until he lost in 1966 by 1,642 votes (despite polling more than 38,000 votes). He returned as MP for Fylde South 1970-83 then for Fylde 1983 to 1987 when he retired.
In 1987 Gardner made the first attempt to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into English law with a Private Member's Bill. Despite gathering some distinguished cross-party support (including Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone), he was unable to secure sufficient support to see his Bill into law. He was a strong advocate of Britain's membership of the common market. "Pulling Britain out of Europe would desolate our industries, increase our unemployment and reduce our stature in the world to insignificance….isolated from Europe we should no longer be able to influence legislation or rules which govern our trade".[2]
Gardner's major contribution to the law was the British Nationality Act 1981. Whilst in opposition in 1977, the Conservative Party asked Gardner to chair a study group to provide advice on changes to the nationality laws. The resultant Green paper, "Who Do We Think We Are?", was published in 1980 and its threefold definition of nationality formed the basis for the Government's legislation.
Called to the Bar, Gray's Inn in 1947; MP (Conservative) for Billericay 1959–66, for South Fylde 1970–83, for Fylde 1983–87; became a QC 1960; PPS to the Attorney General 1962–63; Chairman, Justice Working Party on Bail and Remands in Custody 1966; Chairman, Bar Council Committee on Parliamentary Privilege 1967; Recorder of the Crown Court 1972–85; Chairman, Society of Conservative Lawyers 1975–85; Steward, British Boxing Board of Control 1975–84; Knighted in 1983; Chairman, Select Committee on Home Affairs 1984–87.
Referencesedit
^Roth, Andrew (31 August 2001). "Obituary: Sir Edward Gardner". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
^"The future of Britain desolate on EEC split". Lancashire Evening Post. 10 October 2020.
Sourcesedit
The Times Guide to the House of Commons, Times Newspapers Ltd, 1955, 1966 & 1983
Full Biography
External linksedit
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Edward Gardner
edward, gardner, british, politician, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, january, 2012, learn, when, remove, this. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message Sir Edward Lucas Gardner QC 10 May 1912 2 August 2001 was a barrister and British Conservative Party politician Upon his death The Guardian referred to him as the last of the pre war style Conservative QC MPs 1 Edward GardnerQC MPMember of Parliamentfor FyldeFylde South 1970 1983 In office 18 June 1970 18 May 1987Preceded byClaude LancasterSucceeded byMichael JackMember of Parliamentfor BillericayIn office 8 October 1959 10 March 1966Preceded byRichard BodySucceeded byEric MoonmanPersonal detailsBorn 1912 05 10 10 May 1912Preston Lancashire EnglandDied2 August 2001 2001 08 02 aged 89 Bishop s Stortford Hertfordshire EnglandPolitical partyConservative Contents 1 Life and family 2 Military career 3 Legal career 4 Political career 5 Achievements 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksLife and family editGardner was born in Preston Lancashire on 10 May 1912 and was educated at Hutton Grammar School After leaving education he initially worked as a journalist Gardner married Nina Collins in 1950 having one son one daughter but was divorced in 1962 Then in 1963 he married Joan Belcher also having one son one daughter this second marriage lasting until Joan s death in 1999 Gardner died in Bishop s Stortford Hertfordshire on 2 August 2001 aged 89 Military career editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Edward Gardner British politician news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Gardner served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War surviving the sinking of two ships In 1945 he was appointed a Commander in the RNVR and Chief of Naval Information East Indies Legal career editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Edward Gardner British politician news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Gardner became a barrister called to the bar by Gray s Inn in 1947 and was deputy chairman of the Kent quarter sessions He became a distinguished and a Recorder of the Crown Court from 1972 to 1985 Gardner was appointed as a Queen s Counsel in 1960 and was subsequently admitted to the Nigerian and British Guianan bars he also appeared in the courts of Goa the High Court of Singapore and the Supreme Court of India besides having an extensive practice in England He was a leading member of the Society of Conservative Lawyers chairman of its executive committee from 1969 to 1975 and Chairman 1975 85 Under his guidance the society produced a steady flow of influential pamphlets on suggested changes to the criminal law He chaired the committees that produced Rough Justice a statement on the future of the law in 1968 Crisis in Crime and Punishment 1971 and The Proper Use of Prisons 1978 Political career editGardner contested Erith and Crayford in 1955 He was Member of Parliament for Billericay from 1959 until he lost in 1966 by 1 642 votes despite polling more than 38 000 votes He returned as MP for Fylde South 1970 83 then for Fylde 1983 to 1987 when he retired In 1987 Gardner made the first attempt to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into English law with a Private Member s Bill Despite gathering some distinguished cross party support including Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone he was unable to secure sufficient support to see his Bill into law He was a strong advocate of Britain s membership of the common market Pulling Britain out of Europe would desolate our industries increase our unemployment and reduce our stature in the world to insignificance isolated from Europe we should no longer be able to influence legislation or rules which govern our trade 2 Gardner s major contribution to the law was the British Nationality Act 1981 Whilst in opposition in 1977 the Conservative Party asked Gardner to chair a study group to provide advice on changes to the nationality laws The resultant Green paper Who Do We Think We Are was published in 1980 and its threefold definition of nationality formed the basis for the Government s legislation Achievements editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Edward Gardner British politician news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Called to the Bar Gray s Inn in 1947 MP Conservative for Billericay 1959 66 for South Fylde 1970 83 for Fylde 1983 87 became a QC 1960 PPS to the Attorney General 1962 63 Chairman Justice Working Party on Bail and Remands in Custody 1966 Chairman Bar Council Committee on Parliamentary Privilege 1967 Recorder of the Crown Court 1972 85 Chairman Society of Conservative Lawyers 1975 85 Steward British Boxing Board of Control 1975 84 Knighted in 1983 Chairman Select Committee on Home Affairs 1984 87 References edit Roth Andrew 31 August 2001 Obituary Sir Edward Gardner The Guardian Retrieved 19 February 2014 The future of Britain desolate on EEC split Lancashire Evening Post 10 October 2020 Sources editThe Times Guide to the House of Commons Times Newspapers Ltd 1955 1966 amp 1983 Leigh Rayment s Historical List of MPs Full BiographyExternal links editHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Edward Gardner Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byRichard Body Member of Parliament for Billericay1959 1966 Succeeded byEric Moonman Preceded byClaude Lancaster Member of Parliament for Fylde South1970 1983 Constituency abolished New constituency Member of Parliament for Fylde1983 1987 Succeeded byMichael Jack Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Gardner British politician amp oldid 1166761871, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
