Michael Hughes-Young, 1st Baron St Helens
Encyclopedia
Michael Henry Colin Hughes-Young, 1st Baron St Helens, MC
(28 October 1912 – 27 December 1980) was a British
army
officer and politician. He served as a Government whip
for eight years; after being defeated, he was given a hereditary peerage by the crown.
-born Cavalry Officer who later served as Serjeant-at-Arms for the Parliament of Northern Ireland
. He was sent to Selwyn House Preparatory School in Broadstairs
, and then to Harrow School
; he followed his father into the Army, studying at Sandhurst
. In 1932 he joined the Black Watch
.
on an exchange programme; in 1935 he was seconded to the King's African Rifles
. On the outbreak of the Second World War he married Elizabeth Blakiston-Houston, also from Northern Ireland. He fought against Italy in Abyssinia, and later returned to Britain where he participated in the invasion of Europe; he was wounded twice and won the Military Cross
.
in Surrey. He became an official of Conservative Central Office in the publicity department. At the 1951 general election
, he fought St Helens
against Hartley Shawcross
, the President of the Board of Trade
in the Labour government; this was a safe Labour constituency but it gave Hughes-Young much experience of fighting an election campaign.
Hughes-Young was selected as Conservative
candidate for Wandsworth Central
, a marginal seat. The Labour incumbent Richard Adams retired and Hughes-Young beat Labour's new candidate, Patricia Llewelyn-Davies, by just over 1,000 votes. He took until December to make his maiden speech, which was in a debate on raising the level of National Assistance; he argued that many people resented receiving it because it was charity which brought shame on their family.
to the Minister of State, Board of Trade for some months in 1956. Harold Macmillan
appointed Hughes-Young as an Assistant Whip when he became Prime Minister in January 1957. This silenced him in the Chamber of the House of Commons
(because whips were not supposed to speak), although it was an unpaid post. In 1958 he was part of a Parliamentary delegation to the United States
. He was also a member of a team of Ministers who went round the country making speeches in support of the government in September 1958. The next month, he was promoted to be a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
, a paid whip's role.
He had a tough fight against the same Labour opponent in the 1959 general election
, but increased his majority to 1,972. He was designated as Deputy Government Chief Whip. In December 1961, he was involved in an outbreak of "grave disorder" in the Commons Chamber when he moved the closure of a debate before the Labour opposition spokesman, Patrick Gordon Walker
had had chance to speak. This act provoked a lengthy dispute between the Parliamentary Labour Party
and the Deputy Speaker. It did not harm his career as in March 1962 he was promoted to be Treasurer of the Household
.
, Hughes-Young faced another challenge from Labour, who had selected Dr David Kerr
; in his election address he pointed to the fact that Labour had opposed the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962
and asked how the local housing situation would cope without restrictions on immigration. In line with the national swing, Labour gained the constituency by 2,245 votes.
gave Hughes-Young a hereditary peerage in his resignation honours list. He took the title Baron St Helens, of St Helens
in the County palatine
of Lancashire
. His maiden speech on 10 March 1965 was on immigration; a month later he called for some of the commons on the outskirts of London to be used for temporary housing. He opposed the Bill to suspend the use of capital punishment
. In March 1970 his elder son Patrick died from injuries received in Point to point racing.
He was named in the UK Delegation to attend the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
and Western European Union
in 1970, and introduced a debate on housing in the House of Lords
that May, opposing any reductions in the rate of house building and highlighting the breaking of an election pledge by the Labour government.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(28 October 1912 – 27 December 1980) was a British
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...
army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer and politician. He served as a Government whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
for eight years; after being defeated, he was given a hereditary peerage by the crown.
Family
Hughes-Young was the son of Brigadier-General Henry Young, a Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
-born Cavalry Officer who later served as Serjeant-at-Arms for the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
. He was sent to Selwyn House Preparatory School in Broadstairs
Broadstairs
Broadstairs is a coastal town on the Isle of Thanet in the Thanet district of east Kent, England, about south-east of London. It is part of the civil parish of Broadstairs and St Peter's, which includes St. Peter's and had a population in 2001 of about 24,000. Situated between Margate and...
, and then to Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
; he followed his father into the Army, studying at Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. In 1932 he joined the Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
.
Army career
In 1934, Hughes-Young was attached to the French ArmyFrench Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
on an exchange programme; in 1935 he was seconded to the King's African Rifles
King's African Rifles
The King's African Rifles was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from the various British possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and internal security functions within the East African colonies as well as external service as...
. On the outbreak of the Second World War he married Elizabeth Blakiston-Houston, also from Northern Ireland. He fought against Italy in Abyssinia, and later returned to Britain where he participated in the invasion of Europe; he was wounded twice and won the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
.
Politics
Hughes-Young left the army, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, in 1947, and settled in Englefield GreenEnglefield Green
Englefield Green is a large village in northern Surrey, England. It is home to Royal Holloway, University of London, the south eastern corner of Windsor Great Park and close to the towns of Egham, Windsor, Staines and Virginia Water...
in Surrey. He became an official of Conservative Central Office in the publicity department. At the 1951 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1951
The 1951 United Kingdom general election was held eighteen months after the 1950 general election, which the Labour Party had won with a slim majority of just five seats...
, he fought St Helens
St Helens (UK Parliament constituency)
St Helens was a county constituency in the county of Lancashire, England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
against Hartley Shawcross
Hartley Shawcross, Baron Shawcross
Hartley William Shawcross, Baron Shawcross, GBE, PC, KC was a British barrister and politician and the lead British prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes tribunal.- Early life :...
, the President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills is a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. Its secondary title is the President of the Board of Trade...
in the Labour government; this was a safe Labour constituency but it gave Hughes-Young much experience of fighting an election campaign.
Election to Parliament
Prior to the 1955 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1955
The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on 26 May 1955, four years after the previous general election. It resulted in a substantially increased majority of 60 for the Conservative government under new leader and prime minister Sir Anthony Eden against Labour Party, now in their 20th year...
Hughes-Young was selected as Conservative
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...
candidate for Wandsworth Central
Wandsworth Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Wandsworth Central was a parliamentary constituency in the Wandsworth district of South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, a marginal seat. The Labour incumbent Richard Adams retired and Hughes-Young beat Labour's new candidate, Patricia Llewelyn-Davies, by just over 1,000 votes. He took until December to make his maiden speech, which was in a debate on raising the level of National Assistance; he argued that many people resented receiving it because it was charity which brought shame on their family.
Whip's Office
Hughes-Young served as Parliamentary Private SecretaryParliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to the Minister of State, Board of Trade for some months in 1956. Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
appointed Hughes-Young as an Assistant Whip when he became Prime Minister in January 1957. This silenced him in the Chamber of 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...
(because whips were not supposed to speak), although it was an unpaid post. In 1958 he was part of a Parliamentary delegation to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was also a member of a team of Ministers who went round the country making speeches in support of the government in September 1958. The next month, he was promoted to be a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
, a paid whip's role.
He had a tough fight against the same Labour opponent in the 1959 general 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...
, but increased his majority to 1,972. He was designated as Deputy Government Chief Whip. In December 1961, he was involved in an outbreak of "grave disorder" in the Commons Chamber when he moved the closure of a debate before the Labour opposition spokesman, Patrick Gordon Walker
Patrick Gordon Walker
Patrick Chrestien Gordon Walker, Baron Gordon-Walker CH, PC was a British Labour Party politician. He was a Member of Parliament for nearly thirty years, and served twice as a Cabinet minister...
had had chance to speak. This act provoked a lengthy dispute between the Parliamentary Labour Party
Parliamentary Labour Party
In UK politics, the Parliamentary Labour Party is the parliamentary party of the Labour Party in Parliament: Labour MPs as a collective body....
and the Deputy Speaker. It did not harm his career as in March 1962 he was promoted to be Treasurer of the Household
Treasurer of the Household
The position of Treasurer of the Household is theoretically held by a household official of the British monarch, under control of the Lord Steward's Department, but is, in fact, a political office held by one of the government's Deputy Chief Whips in the House of Commons...
.
Defeat
At the 1964 general electionUnited 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...
, Hughes-Young faced another challenge from Labour, who had selected Dr David Kerr
David Kerr (UK politician)
David Leigh Kerr was a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was an active member of the Socialist Medical Association before he was elected Member of Parliament for Wandsworth Central from 1964 to 1970, when he stood down...
; in his election address he pointed to the fact that Labour had opposed the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962
Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962
The Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.Before the Act was passed, citizens of British commonwealth countries had extensive rights to migrate to the UK...
and asked how the local housing situation would cope without restrictions on immigration. In line with the national swing, Labour gained the constituency by 2,245 votes.
Peerage
Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAlec Douglas-Home
Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT, PC , known as The Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963 and as Sir Alec Douglas-Home from 1963 to 1974, was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1963 to October 1964.He is the last...
gave Hughes-Young a hereditary peerage in his resignation honours list. He took the title Baron St Helens, of St Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
in the County palatine
County palatine
A county palatine or palatinate is an area ruled by an hereditary nobleman possessing special authority and autonomy from the rest of a kingdom or empire. The name derives from the Latin adjective palatinus, "relating to the palace", from the noun palatium, "palace"...
of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. His maiden speech on 10 March 1965 was on immigration; a month later he called for some of the commons on the outskirts of London to be used for temporary housing. He opposed the Bill to suspend the use of capital punishment
Capital punishment in the United Kingdom
Capital punishment in the United Kingdom was used from the creation of the state in 1707 until the practice was abolished in the 20th century. The last executions in the United Kingdom, by hanging, took place in 1964, prior to capital punishment being abolished for murder...
. In March 1970 his elder son Patrick died from injuries received in Point to point racing.
He was named in the UK Delegation to attend the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and Western European Union
Western European Union
The Western European Union was an international organisation tasked with implementing the Modified Treaty of Brussels , an amended version of the original 1948 Treaty of Brussels...
in 1970, and introduced a debate on housing in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
that May, opposing any reductions in the rate of house building and highlighting the breaking of an election pledge by the Labour government.