Macleod Group
Encyclopedia
The Macleod Group was a short-lived pressure group and dining club associated with the 'left-wing' of Conservative Party that existed in 1975 before amalgamation with others to form the Tory Reform Group
. It was composed of Tories who were considered progressive on many of the social issues of the time - for example, many supported the abolition of capital punishment - and strong supporters of Britain's membership of the EEC
.
The group was established soon after the general elections of 1974 by Nicholas Scott
. The President was David Knox
, and the vice-presidents were Robert Carr
, Lynda Chalker
, Sir Nigel Fisher
and Nicholas Scott
.
In January 1975 the Macleod Group came out in support of Edward Heath
in the 1975 Conservative leadership election
. When Margaret Thatcher
won the contest, the group expressed disappointment at her choices for the Shadow Cabinet. They were particularly displeased with the absence of Robert Carr, Peter Walker
, and Nicholas Scott in the Shadow Cabinet, and complained that the common factor was neither age nor ability, but that they were all on the 'left' of the party.
In September 1975, the Macleod Group merged with Pressure for Economic and Social Toryism (Pest),the Progressive Tory Pressure Group and the Social Tory Action Group to form the Tory Reform Group
and many prominent members in the Maceod Group went on to play a big role in the Tory Reform Group.
Tory Reform Group
The Tory Reform Group is a group aligned to, but independent of, the British Conservative Party, that works to promote the values of the One Nation Tory vision...
. It was composed of Tories who were considered progressive on many of the social issues of the time - for example, many supported the abolition of capital punishment - and strong supporters of Britain's membership of the EEC
EEC
EEC is an abbreviation that usually refers to the European Economic Community, the forerunner to the European Union.It may also refer to;* The East Erie Commercial Railroad, a shortline in Pennsylvania...
.
The group was established soon after the general elections of 1974 by Nicholas Scott
Nicholas Scott
The Rt. Hon. Sir Nicholas Paul Scott, PC, JP , was a British Conservative Party politician.Scott was educated at Clapham College and was national chairman of the Young Conservatives in 1963...
. The President was David Knox
David Knox (UK politician)
Sir David Laidlaw Knox is a British Conservative Party politician. He was the Conservative MP for Leek, Staffordshire from 1970 to 1983, and for Staffordshire Moorlands from 1983 to 1997, when he retired....
, and the vice-presidents were Robert Carr
Robert Carr
Leonard Robert Carr, Baron Carr of Hadley, PC is a British Conservative politician.Robert Carr was educated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge where he read Natural Sciences, graduating in 1938....
, Lynda Chalker
Lynda Chalker
Lynda Chalker, Baroness Chalker of Wallasey PC is a British Conservative politician who was Member of Parliament for Wallasey from 1974 to 1992...
, Sir Nigel Fisher
Nigel Fisher
Sir Nigel Thomas Loveridge Fisher MC was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.Fisher was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was in the Welsh Guards of the British Army during World War II, serving as a major in north west Europe. He was awarded the...
and Nicholas Scott
Nicholas Scott
The Rt. Hon. Sir Nicholas Paul Scott, PC, JP , was a British Conservative Party politician.Scott was educated at Clapham College and was national chairman of the Young Conservatives in 1963...
.
In January 1975 the Macleod Group came out in support of Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
in the 1975 Conservative leadership election
Conservative Party (UK) leadership election, 1975
Edward Heath, leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom had called and unexpectedly lost the February 1974 general election...
. When Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
won the contest, the group expressed disappointment at her choices for the Shadow Cabinet. They were particularly displeased with the absence of Robert Carr, Peter Walker
Peter Walker
Peter Walker may refer to:* Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester, British politician* Peter Walker , American landscape architect* Peter Walker , the name of two members of a Scottish brewing family, and their two companies...
, and Nicholas Scott in the Shadow Cabinet, and complained that the common factor was neither age nor ability, but that they were all on the 'left' of the party.
In September 1975, the Macleod Group merged with Pressure for Economic and Social Toryism (Pest),the Progressive Tory Pressure Group and the Social Tory Action Group to form the Tory Reform Group
Tory Reform Group
The Tory Reform Group is a group aligned to, but independent of, the British Conservative Party, that works to promote the values of the One Nation Tory vision...
and many prominent members in the Maceod Group went on to play a big role in the Tory Reform Group.