Frank Medlicott
Encyclopedia
Brigadier Frank Medlicott (10 November 1903 – 9 January 1972) was a National Liberal Party
and later Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
.
He first stood for parliament as a Liberal, contesting Acton
in 1929.
He was elected as a National Liberal Member of Parliament
(MP) for East Norfolk
at a by-election in 1939
after the National Liberal MP Viscount Elmley
had succeeded to the peerage as the 8th Earl Beauchamp
.
The National Liberals formally merged with the Conservative Party
in 1947, after many years of working closely together. However, many candidates, including Medlicott, continued to describe themselves as "Conservative and National Liberal", or other permuations of the two names.
When the East Norfolk constituency was abolished for the 1950 general election
, Medlicott was elected as Conservative and National Liberal MP for Central Norfolk
. In November 1956 Medlicott was a firm opponent of the Eden government's decision to invade the Suez canal
zone, but his stance was not supported by the Central Norfolk Conservative and National Liberal Association which passed a resolution dissociating themselves from the views of their MP.
On 1 May 1957 Medlicott announced that he would not contest the next election, writing to the association to tell them that he rejected their view that the Member of Parliament should do what party leaders tell him. In November 1957, Medlicott resigned the Conservative whip. He was invited to be the Liberal Party
candidate for the constituency but declined, and in November 1958 he applied to receive the Conservative whip again (which was granted). Medlicott duly retired from the House of Commons
at the 1959 election
. He re-joined the Liberal Party, however, he did not stand again for election.
National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)
The National Liberal Party, known until 1948 as the Liberal National Party, was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1931 to 1968...
and later 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 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 first stood for parliament as a Liberal, contesting Acton
Acton (UK Parliament constituency)
- Elections in the 1940s :- Elections in the 1960s :-References:...
in 1929.
He was elected as a National Liberal 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 East Norfolk
East Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)
East Norfolk was a parliamentary constituency in the county of Norfolk. It returned two Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868. Another Eastern division was created in 1885, when its representation was reduced to one member...
at a by-election in 1939
East Norfolk by-election, 1939
The East Norfolk by-election, 1939 was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 January 1939 for the British House of Commons constituency of East Norfolk.- Previous MP :...
after the National Liberal MP Viscount Elmley
William Lygon, 8th Earl Beauchamp
William Lygon, 8th Earl Beauchamp was a politician in the United Kingdom.He was the eldest son of the controversial William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp, sometime leader of the Liberals in the House of Lords. Standing as a Liberal, he was elected as Member of Parliament for East Norfolk at the 1929...
had succeeded to the peerage as the 8th Earl Beauchamp
Earl Beauchamp
Earl Beauchamp was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1815 for William Lygon, 1st Baron Beauchamp, along with the subsidiary title Viscount Elmley, in the County of Worcester. He had already been created Baron Beauchamp of Powyke in the County of Worcester, in 1806,...
.
The National Liberals formally merged with the 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...
in 1947, after many years of working closely together. However, many candidates, including Medlicott, continued to describe themselves as "Conservative and National Liberal", or other permuations of the two names.
When the East Norfolk constituency was abolished for the 1950 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1950
The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five...
, Medlicott was elected as Conservative and National Liberal MP for Central Norfolk
Central Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)
Central Norfolk was a county constituency in the county of Norfolk. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...
. In November 1956 Medlicott was a firm opponent of the Eden government's decision to invade the Suez canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
zone, but his stance was not supported by the Central Norfolk Conservative and National Liberal Association which passed a resolution dissociating themselves from the views of their MP.
On 1 May 1957 Medlicott announced that he would not contest the next election, writing to the association to tell them that he rejected their view that the Member of Parliament should do what party leaders tell him. In November 1957, Medlicott resigned the Conservative whip. He was invited to be the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
candidate for the constituency but declined, and in November 1958 he applied to receive the Conservative whip again (which was granted). Medlicott duly retired from the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
at the 1959 election
United Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
. He re-joined the Liberal Party, however, he did not stand again for election.