William Shelton
Encyclopedia
Sir William Jeremy Masefield Shelton commonly known as Bill Shelton (30 October 1929 – 2 January 2003) was a Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
. He was Member of Parliament
for Clapham
from 1970 to 1974, then for Streatham
from February 1974 until he lost the seat to Labour Party
candidate Keith Hill in 1992.
He was educated at Radley College
, Tabor Academy
in the United States, and Oxford University.
Bill Shelton's most important political influence was in 1975, when he was one of the few to recognise that Margaret Thatcher
was a serious contender for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Working as joint campaign manager with Airey Neave
, Shelton is reputed to have organised the successful "stealth" campaign to convince backbench Tory MPs on the party's right wing that by backing Thatcher in the leadership ballot they could oust Edward Heath
.
Shelton became Thatcher's Parliamentary Private Secretary
during her time as Leader of the Opposition, and later served under her as junior minister for Education and Science from 1981 to 1983.
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 was 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,...
for Clapham
Clapham (UK Parliament constituency)
Clapham was a borough constituency in South London which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
from 1970 to 1974, then for Streatham
Streatham (UK Parliament constituency)
Streatham 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.-Boundaries:...
from February 1974 until he lost the seat to Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
candidate Keith Hill in 1992.
He was educated at Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
, Tabor Academy
Tabor Academy
Tabor Academy is a highly selective independent preparatory school located in Marion, Massachusetts, United States. Tabor is known for its marine science courses...
in the United States, and Oxford University.
Bill Shelton's most important political influence was in 1975, when he was one of the few to recognise that Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
was a serious contender for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Working as joint campaign manager with Airey Neave
Airey Neave
Airey Middleton Sheffield Neave DSO, OBE, MC was a British soldier, barrister and politician.During World War II, Neave was one of the few servicemen to escape from the German prisoner-of-war camp Oflag IV-C at Colditz Castle...
, Shelton is reputed to have organised the successful "stealth" campaign to convince backbench Tory MPs on the party's right wing that by backing Thatcher in the leadership ballot they could oust 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 ....
.
Shelton became Thatcher's Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary 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...
during her time as Leader of the Opposition, and later served under her as junior minister for Education and Science from 1981 to 1983.