Michael Thomas (politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Stuart Thomas, known as Mike Thomas, (born 24 May 1944) is a former British
politician, identified with the Labour Party
until 1981 and thereafter with the Social Democratic Party
. He became well known for his role in both the establishment of the SDP and then in the SDP's subsequent demise. The SDP's leader, Roy Jenkins
, referred to Thomas as the "pint-sized Pavarotti", on the basis of his stocky build and beard together with his aggressive manner.
. He initially made a career in political research, acting as head of the Co-operative Party
's research department from 1966 to 1968 and as a research associate with the predecessor body of the Policy Studies Institute
from 1968 to 1973. He stood as the Labour Party Candidate for the constituency of Hertfordshire (East) in the 1970 general election. On that occasion, Thomas lost to the Conservative Party
candidate by a 14,000 vote margin.
Thomas continued in his quest to find a seat in Parliament and eventually succeeded at Newcastle-upon-Tyne East in September 1974, after the death at age 45 of the sitting Labour member Geoff Rhodes. Thomas's rivals for the Labour candidature included a number of local Party activists, notably the prominent local councillor Jeremy Beecham
. As an outsider to Newcastle Labour politics, Thomas won the selection vote with the support of left-wing and anti-establishment elements in the local Party. One of the party members who voted for Thomas at the selection meeting later characterised him as "... the classic 'man who got off the train from Kings Cross'. His key asset was that nobody knew anything about him."
He went on to be elected as the Labour and Co-operative Party
MP for Newcastle East with a 6,000 vote majority over his Conservative opponent in the October 1974 general election.
to minister Roy Hattersley
from 1974 to 1976. He developed an interest in industrial and commercial matters, serving on the Parliamentary Select Committe on the Nationalized Industries from 1975 to 1979 and as Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party
's Trade Group from 1979 to 1981.
Once established as an MP, Thomas soon became associated with the Campaign for Labour Victory group of right wingers in the Labour Party led by MP and Environment Minister Bill Rodgers
. In February 1981 Thomas was among a number of Labour MPs who defected to the new Social Democratic Party
. During a final meeting with his constituency Labour Party, Thomas claimed that consultations with constituents convinced him that most of them supported his decision the leave the Labour Party. He declined to follow the advice of the constituency party that he should resign as an MP and contest a by-election. Thomas remained in Parliament as an SDP MP where he acted as his new party's health spokesman.
Along with Ian Wrigglesworth
he was credited with masterminding the party's successful launch. As a member of the SDP's national steering committee he assumed a prominent role in the selection of SDP candidates for the forthcoming general election. He also assumed a prominent role in negotiations with the Liberal party
concerning the sharing out of constituency candidacies between the two parties. The terms of an SDP/Liberal alliance was critical to the electoral success of both. Thomas quickly became known for his obduracy in the seat negotiations with the Liberals. In July 1981 it was reported that :
"Senior Liberals were quietly seething ... at the suggestion from Mike Thomas that half the prospective parliamentary candidates already adopted by local Liberal associations should stand down in favour of SDP members."
Many Liberals perceived Thomas's approach as being "... a cynical electoral deal imposed from above." Thomas sought re-election at Newcastle East in the 1983 general election
as the SDP candidate, but could only come in third place. Labour's Nick Brown
won with a majority of 7,000 votes over his Conservative opponent. Thomas stood for Parliament as an SDP candidate in Exeter
in 1987
but failed to be elected.
At its annual Conference in September 1987, the SDP decided to open negotiations with the Liberal Party over a merger of the two parties. Thomas and some other high-profile SDP members were opposed to this merger. Thomas provided an iconic image of the demise of the SDP when he engaged in a heated exchange with SDP President Shirley Williams over the use of a room at the conference centre for a meeting of those SDP members opposed to the merger. In full view of TV cameras, Williams refused Thomas access to the room on grounds that his group's meeting was not an official SDP function. Thomas initiated another heated disagreement at the Conference when he demanded access to the SDP's central membership list in order to facilitate his campaign to keep the SDP as an independent party. This provoked a further confrontation with Shirley Williams and Thomas moved a motion of no confidence in her chairmanship of the Conference.
Thomas became Vice-President of the SDP rump that continued as an independent party after formation of the merged Liberal Democrats
in 1988. He continued trying to negotiate deals whereby SDP and Liberal Democrat candidates would stand down in each other's favour in particular constituencies. But by now his advances were being largely ignored.
.
He remained a prominent member of the SDP until that party's final demise in 1990. He has not been politically active since then and, unlike many former SDP leaders, has declined to align himself with any of the other political parties.
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...
politician, identified with the Labour Party
Labour Party
The name Labour Party , or similar, is used by several political parties around the world, particularly common in countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. They are most commonly, but not exclusively, social democrats or democratic socialists and have been traditionally allied to the Labour...
until 1981 and thereafter with the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party
The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by a large number of political parties in various countries around the world...
. He became well known for his role in both the establishment of the SDP and then in the SDP's subsequent demise. The SDP's leader, Roy Jenkins
Roy Jenkins
Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in...
, referred to Thomas as the "pint-sized Pavarotti", on the basis of his stocky build and beard together with his aggressive manner.
Early political career
Thomas studied at Liverpool University from 1962 to 1966. From 1965 to 1966 he served as President of the Liverpool University Guild of Students and from 1966 to 1968 he was a member of the National Executive of the National Union of StudentsNational Union of Students
-British Isles:*National Union of Students**National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland**National Union of Students Scotland**National Union of Students Wales-Scandinavia:*Danish National Union of Students*National Union of Students in Finland...
. He initially made a career in political research, acting as head of the Co-operative Party
Co-operative Party
The Co-operative Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative principles. The party does not put up separate candidates for any UK election itself. Instead, Co-operative candidates stand jointly with the Labour Party as "Labour...
's research department from 1966 to 1968 and as a research associate with the predecessor body of the Policy Studies Institute
Policy Studies Institute
The Policy Studies Institute is a British think-tank. It was formed in 1978 through the merger of the former Centre for the Study of Social Policy and Political and Economic Planning. Since 1998 it has been an independent subsidiary of the University of Westminster...
from 1968 to 1973. He stood as the Labour Party Candidate for the constituency of Hertfordshire (East) in the 1970 general election. On that occasion, Thomas lost to the Conservative Party
Conservative Party
-Africa:*Conservative Party *Conservative Party *Conservative Party -Europe:*Conservative Party *Conservative Party of Armenia *Conservative Party *Conservative Party...
candidate by a 14,000 vote margin.
Thomas continued in his quest to find a seat in Parliament and eventually succeeded at Newcastle-upon-Tyne East in September 1974, after the death at age 45 of the sitting Labour member Geoff Rhodes. Thomas's rivals for the Labour candidature included a number of local Party activists, notably the prominent local councillor Jeremy Beecham
Jeremy Beecham
Jeremy Beecham, Baron Beecham, Kt, DL is a British Labour politician and a senior figure in English local government. He was leader of Newcastle City Council and the first Chairman of theLocal Government Association...
. As an outsider to Newcastle Labour politics, Thomas won the selection vote with the support of left-wing and anti-establishment elements in the local Party. One of the party members who voted for Thomas at the selection meeting later characterised him as "... the classic 'man who got off the train from Kings Cross'. His key asset was that nobody knew anything about him."
He went on to be elected as the Labour and Co-operative Party
Labour Party
The name Labour Party , or similar, is used by several political parties around the world, particularly common in countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. They are most commonly, but not exclusively, social democrats or democratic socialists and have been traditionally allied to the Labour...
MP for Newcastle East with a 6,000 vote majority over his Conservative opponent in the October 1974 general election.
The Social Democratic Party
As a new Labour MP, Thomas 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 minister Roy Hattersley
Roy Hattersley
Roy Sydney George Hattersley, Baron Hattersley is a British Labour politician, author and journalist from Sheffield. He served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992.-Early life:...
from 1974 to 1976. He developed an interest in industrial and commercial matters, serving on the Parliamentary Select Committe on the Nationalized Industries from 1975 to 1979 and as Chairman of 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....
's Trade Group from 1979 to 1981.
Once established as an MP, Thomas soon became associated with the Campaign for Labour Victory group of right wingers in the Labour Party led by MP and Environment Minister Bill Rodgers
Bill Rodgers
William or Bill Rodgers may refer to:*William Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank , British politician*Bill Rodgers , American marathon runner*Bill Rodgers , American MLB player...
. In February 1981 Thomas was among a number of Labour MPs who defected to the new Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
. During a final meeting with his constituency Labour Party, Thomas claimed that consultations with constituents convinced him that most of them supported his decision the leave the Labour Party. He declined to follow the advice of the constituency party that he should resign as an MP and contest a by-election. Thomas remained in Parliament as an SDP MP where he acted as his new party's health spokesman.
Along with Ian Wrigglesworth
Ian Wrigglesworth
Sir Ian William Wrigglesworth is Deputy Chairman of the Government's Regional Growth Fund Advisory Panel which is Chaired by Lord Heseltine and appointed by the Government to consider bids. He is Chief Executive of a Gateshead based commercial property investment company and is Chairman of the...
he was credited with masterminding the party's successful launch. As a member of the SDP's national steering committee he assumed a prominent role in the selection of SDP candidates for the forthcoming general election. He also assumed a prominent role in negotiations with the Liberal party
Liberal Party
Liberal Party is the name for dozens of political parties around the world. Liberal parties can be center-left, centrist, or center-right depending on their location...
concerning the sharing out of constituency candidacies between the two parties. The terms of an SDP/Liberal alliance was critical to the electoral success of both. Thomas quickly became known for his obduracy in the seat negotiations with the Liberals. In July 1981 it was reported that :
"Senior Liberals were quietly seething ... at the suggestion from Mike Thomas that half the prospective parliamentary candidates already adopted by local Liberal associations should stand down in favour of SDP members."
Many Liberals perceived Thomas's approach as being "... a cynical electoral deal imposed from above." Thomas sought re-election at Newcastle East in the 1983 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
as the SDP candidate, but could only come in third place. Labour's Nick Brown
Nick Brown
Nicholas Hugh "Nick" Brown is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne East since 1983...
won with a majority of 7,000 votes over his Conservative opponent. Thomas stood for Parliament as an SDP candidate in Exeter
Exeter (UK Parliament constituency)
Exeter is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in 1987
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
but failed to be elected.
At its annual Conference in September 1987, the SDP decided to open negotiations with the Liberal Party over a merger of the two parties. Thomas and some other high-profile SDP members were opposed to this merger. Thomas provided an iconic image of the demise of the SDP when he engaged in a heated exchange with SDP President Shirley Williams over the use of a room at the conference centre for a meeting of those SDP members opposed to the merger. In full view of TV cameras, Williams refused Thomas access to the room on grounds that his group's meeting was not an official SDP function. Thomas initiated another heated disagreement at the Conference when he demanded access to the SDP's central membership list in order to facilitate his campaign to keep the SDP as an independent party. This provoked a further confrontation with Shirley Williams and Thomas moved a motion of no confidence in her chairmanship of the Conference.
Thomas became Vice-President of the SDP rump that continued as an independent party after formation of the merged Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
in 1988. He continued trying to negotiate deals whereby SDP and Liberal Democrat candidates would stand down in each other's favour in particular constituencies. But by now his advances were being largely ignored.
Later career
After losing his seat in Parliament in 1983, Thomas developed a portfolio of interests in journalism and management consulting. He was involved in various consultancies mainly concerned with media and public relations. In 1988 he established his own consultancy named Corporate Communications Strategy. In 1998 he became a non-executive director of the 'lobbying and direct marketing group' Lopex whose then Chairman was the former SDP peer Viscount ChandosViscount Chandos
Viscount Chandos, of Aldershot in the County of Southampton, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1954 for the businessman and public servant Oliver Lyttelton. He was the son of the politician and sportsman the Hon...
.
He remained a prominent member of the SDP until that party's final demise in 1990. He has not been politically active since then and, unlike many former SDP leaders, has declined to align himself with any of the other political parties.