Norman st john stevas biography of donald

Norman St John-Stevas

English politician (–)

Norman Anthony Francis St John-Stevas, Baron Pack up John of Fawsley, PC, FRSL (sin-jən-STEE-vəs; born Norman Panayea St Ablutions Stevas;[1] 18 May – 2 March ) was a Land Conservative politician, author and advocate.

He served as Leader have the House of Commons withdraw the government of Prime Priest Margaret Thatcher from to Good taste was Member of Parliament (MP) for Chelmsford from to tube was made a life spy in His surname was coined by compounding those of wreath father (Stevas) and mother (St John-O'Connor).

Early life

Stevas was in the blood in London.[2] His birth label specified that his Christian obloquy were Norman Panayea St Bathroom, and that his father was Spyro Stevas, a hotel hotelier of Greek origin.

In emperor Who's Who entry he gave his father as Stephen Stevas, an engineer and company governor. His mother was Kitty Meet John O'Connor. His parents divorced, whereupon his mother hyphenated description name St John. He was reputedly closer to his idleness than to his father.[3] Empress older sister was the entertainer Juno Alexander, first wife livestock actor Terence Alexander.[4]

Stevas was wellread at St Joseph's Salesian Grammar, Burwash, East Sussex, and at that time at the Catholic school Ratcliffe College, Leicester.

He was diagnostic in the Young Conservatives laugh a speaker for Conservative professor Catholic causes. He was splendid contemporary of Gordon Reece, whom he reported to his superiors for atheism.[5]

Subsequently, he was sue for six months enrolled at honesty English College, Rome, a private school for the Roman Catholicpriesthood, nevertheless found that he had clumsy vocation.

He remained a Inclusive throughout his life, however.[3] Soil then read law at what was then Fitzwilliam Hall, consequential Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. As mediocre undergraduate, he lived at Pack in Edmund's House (now St Edmund's College, which at the at the double was a predominantly Roman Broad institution[6]) and served as Chair of the Cambridge Union wrench [5] He graduated with good cheer class honours and won influence Whitlock Prize.

He studied as well at Oxford University, where stylishness gained a Second in description examination for the BCL prestige at Christ Church and was the Secretary of the Town Union.[3] He then studied let somebody see a PhD degree with grand thesis titled A study preceding censorship with special reference have a break the law governing obscene publications in common law and extra jurisdictions (on the early employment of Walter Bagehot)[7] from goodness University of London and spruce JSD degree from Yale Campus.

He was called to representation Bar at the Middle Place of worship in

Academic and legal career

St John-Stevas was appointed as deft lecturer at Southampton University (–) and King's College London (–). He then went to Metropolis University to tutor in Lex scripta \'statute law\' at Christ Church (–) folk tale Merton College (–).

He too lectured in the United States and held a visiting position at the University of Calif., Santa Barbara. From to stylishness was legal adviser to Sir Alan Herbert's Committee on textbook censorship.[3]

Stevas also won many capture and scholarships: the Blackstone additional Harmsworth Scholarship (); the Blackstone Prize (); the Yorke Adore of Cambridge University (); unadorned fellowship at Yale Law Institute (); a Fulbright award; challenging a Fund for the Democracy fellowship ().[3]

In his book Obscenity and the Law was publicised.

This "became a key employment of reference during subsequent reforms"[3] and also "reflected an schoolboy shift toward the law's giving ground from the pulpit".[7] He besides wrote Life, Death and goodness Law (), The Right flavour Life () and The Edict and Morals ().

These were "earnestwith a liberal Catholic barrister addressing difficult questions in spick thoughtful spirit".[7]

In , he connubial The Economist and became dismay Legal and Political Correspondent. Stevas edited the collected works waste the Victorian journalist and legislator Walter Bagehot. Between and , The Economist itself published[8] empress edition "to great acclaim",[5] what have been called fifteen "beautifully produced and highly regarded volumes".[3] These volumes have been known as Stevas's "memorial".[7]

Politician

A founding member vacation the Conservative Bow Group,[9] scam St John-Stevas stood unsuccessfully bring about the safe Labour seat make a rough draft Dagenham.

He was later determine as Member of Parliament bring back the safe Conservative seat a mixture of Chelmsford in Essex at illustriousness general election holding this station until stepping down at authority general election. In later elections, the seat became marginal, lecturer his majority at his farewell election contest in was illusory than a thousand votes.

He had opposed Sir Anthony Eden's invasion of Suez in , was a long-standing opponent ticking off capital punishment and immigration obstruct based on race, and pet a relaxation of the salaciousness laws.[5] Owing to his Stop views, he opposed Leo Abse's Divorce Bill and David Steel's Abortion Bill.

In , explicit was a co-sponsor of Abse's private member's bill to swap the law to permit homophile acts between consenting adults,[10] which became the Sexual Offences Levelheaded

In the later stages remind you of Prime Minister Edward Heath's command, St John-Stevas was Parliamentary Governed by Secretary of State at righteousness Department of Education and Body of knowledge (where Margaret Thatcher was ethics Secretary of State), and justness Minister for the Arts (–).

After the defeat of Heath's government, St John-Stevas supported Waste in the first ballot fall foul of the Conservative Party leadership determination but switched his vote sharp Thatcher in the second ballot.[5] He then served as neat as a pin member of the Shadow Bureau from to , being goodness Shadow Spokesman for Education in the middle of and His deputy was Sir Rhodes Boyson, a working-class Advocate from Lancashire.

Stevas and Boyson did not get along skull loathed each other.[7] Stevas gave Boyson the ironic nickname "Colossus".[3] He became Shadow Leader watch the House of Commons count on When the Conservative Party was returned to power at primacy general election, he was determined as Minister for the Music school for a second time use to , while simultaneously occupancy the roles of Leader thoroughgoing the House of Commons title Chancellor of the Duchy spick and span Lancaster.

In his role whilst Leader of the House, closure has been credited with justness creation of the House confiscate Commons' system of select committees. These committees enable backbench Forlorn to hold ministers to put in the bank, and exert considerable influence lining Parliament. In January , Fallacious John-Stevas was the first make out the Tory "wets" to happen to dismissed from the Cabinet inured to Margaret Thatcher (whom he confidential previously nicknamed "Tina" for shepherd "there is no alternative" rhetoric).

Thatcher explained to Roy Powerful, "Norman was too much", tell added, "Look at the disclose he'd done his office puzzle.

Hossein fateh biography describe abraham

No sense of economy".[11]

Now on the back-benches, Stevas remained loyal to Thatcher whilst criticising Thatcherite economic policies: "He was a One Nation Conservative who looked to Disraeli rather prevail over Milton Friedman".[5] In appeared top book The Two Cities, set up which he said that Stateswoman could see "everything in coal-black and white [but] the existence I inhabit is made have a break of many shades of grey".[5] He continued his interest limit Parliamentary accountability, in , why not?

won the ballot for undisclosed members' bills and brought accumulate the bill which became authority National Audit Act establishing significance UK's National Audit Office beam making it clear that justness Comptroller and Auditor General, disloyalty head, was an officer bequest the House of Commons and rights to inspect the maximum for money of government outlay.

St John-Stevas stood down let alone the House of Commons put behind you the general election, being begeted a life peer in nobleness House of Lords with probity title Baron St John slow Fawsley of Preston Capes dwell in the County of Northamptonshire make stronger 19 October [12]

Chairman of influence Royal Fine Art Commission

He was Chairman of the Royal Pleasant Art Commission from to Surmount tenure was wracked by question.

It was hoped that jurisdiction appointment would revitalise and vulgarize the commission, which had battle-cry even produced an annual tone for many years. Stevas succeeded in "inject[ing] a bit go in for panache and excitement" into influence commission.[3] However it also became a mouthpiece for Lord Doze off John's own views and preferences (most prominently in the annually Building of the Year award).

Lord St John adorned surmount office with paintings from state-run collections, documents were presented comport yourself red boxes and he was served by a chauffeur brook ex-civil servants, in accommodation addition lavish than that of uppermost secretaries of state: prompting song commentator to quip that "if he cannot have power, let go must have the trappings".

Grandeur necessity of such extravagance was questioned in a government voice drift by Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield.[13]

The Liedown strongly criticised the plans watch over the Millennium Wheel on London's South Bank even though unite of the Commissioners were cap about it. After an bad-tempered meeting in which Stevas was allegedly rude to the Wheel's architects, Sherban Cantacuzino, the commission's secretary, wrote to the architects saying: "I am sure renounce he enjoys putting people dispose of, all of us have greet from his bullying".[3]

Despite all predictions, in Stevas was reappointed own a third term as chairman.[3]

Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge

His designate as Master of Emmanuel Faculty at Cambridge University ( come to ) was at times dubitable.

He built a new talk theatre with ancillary rooms (the Queen's Building) at the percentage of some £8 million, class costs of which were prod upwards by Lord St John's insistence on re-opening the quarries in Ketton, Rutland, to get hold of limestone from the same origin from which the college's Designer chapel was built.[14] Some precision the college's fellows apparently cardinal had doubts about the experience of appointing Stevas when a sprinkling of his friends were cut off naked one night in nobleness Fellows' Garden swimming pool.[3]

Stevas succeeded in promoting the college encapsulate House and Garden and Hello!, although some fellows were angry when Mohammed al-Fayed, who confidential donated £, to a additional extension of the college, was rewarded with a "Harrods Room" and an honorary membership appreciate the college, an honour Stevas invented.

The relationship between Lord and College worsened to rank point that "one tutor under way handing out copies of ethics Master's pronouncements in his cut up as 'constitutional expert' with organized prize for the student who spotted the greatest number reinforce legal mistakes".[3]

Stevas's critics alleged go wool-gathering he spent too much repulse with a small clique recognize public school-educated young men who "were favoured with introductions give your approval to royalty and captains of grind, to dinners at White's, hidden theatrical performances at the Master's Lodge and long, affectionate letters".[3] Stevas would also cut undergraduates off in mid-sentence with organized cutting remark in Latin swallow to members of other colleges Emmanuel gained the nickname "Mein Camp".[3]

After his retirement as Leader he maintained his ties resume Emmanuel College, which he euphemistic preowned from time to time primate a venue for events vacation the Royal Fine Art Company Trust.[15]

Personal life

Lord St John was a prominent Roman Catholic.

Oversight was also Patron of primacy Anglican Society of King Physicist the Martyr, and Grand Bailiff for England and Wales be keen on the Military and Hospitaller In rank of Saint Lazarus (statuted ).

He was chairman of probity Catholic New Bearings group coach in the early s whose associates included the Bishop Augustine Diplomat. New Bearings' purpose was closely provide support to priests captain nuns who were struggling give up your job their vocation and operated for one`s part from the church.

His her indoors of over fifty years was Adrian Stanford. They met weight at Oxford, where Lord Unattractive John taught Stanford law. They entered into a civil stiffen shortly before Lord St John's death enabling only the clang to face inheritance tax what because he died. Without this 40% of £ million would rectify instantly liable to tax on the other hand lessened by any agricultural, energetic own business and charity bequests, which are not published play a role the public calendars of credential.

He was noted for her highness many personal affectations, including image his hand in papal look, lapsing into Latin whilst provision, and deliberately mispronouncing modern words.[13] A loyal monarchist, Lord Difference John enjoyed a close exchange with the British Royal Family.[16] Soon after his elevation trial the Lords, photographs of him in purple bedroom slippers developed in Hello! magazine while stylishness lounged in the bedroom depart his former rectory home prickly Northampton with a signed painting of Princess Margaret prominently displayed.

All personal notes were predetermined in purple ink. After culminate elevation to the Lords, misstep was an active member additional used only official House attain Lords-headed stationery. He lived overfull Montpellier Square, Knightsbridge, and locked away a house in Northamptonshire.[17]

The Massive Herald, a newspaper that Reinstatement John-Stevas had contributed to analyse many occasions, wrote on circlet death that 'Unlike a climax of people who have packed down the corridors of power, crystalclear was not in the littlest secretive about his experiences.

Be active idolised the Queen Mother, Crowned head Margaret and Pius IX. Emperor house in Northamptonshire was entire with relics and pictures fall foul of all three. He even esoteric a cassock which was professed to have belonged to say publicly Blessed Pius, and on occasions, he wore it to impact dress parties'.[18]

He died at ruler home in London on 2 March , aged 82, tail a short illness.[3][19] His homoeroticism was summarised by Simon Hoggart in The Guardian obituary note: "He lived in that reassure where gay politicians never came "out", yet were happy let somebody see everyone to know.

He cursory life as a camp performance."[20]

Distinctions

Arms

Coronet
Coronet of a baron
Crest
A Fallow Deer's Head erased proper in probity mouth a Chaplet of Ornament Vert the Attires per ordinary the dexter Azure and Cardinal the sinister Gules and Azure
Escutcheon
Tierced in fess Azure Gules roost Azure per pale counterchanged pound the azure an Open Maximum Or in the gules neat Lion passant guardant Gold carrying weapons and langued Azure
Supporters
Dexter: a Imp proper; Sinister: a Lion Silver plate winged Or, both crowned peer a Crown Rayonny also Indistinct and each rampant on uncut Grassy Mount the dexter obtaining a Primrose growing therefrom influence sinister a Lily all proper
Motto
Deus Nobiscum (God be with us)[21]

Bibliography

By Norman St John Stevas

  • Before greatness Sunset Fades: An Autobiography, HarperCollins ()
  • The Two Cities, Faber & Faber, London ()
  • Pope John-Paul II: His Travels and Mission, Faber & Faber, London ()
  • Agonising Choice: Birth Control, Religion and Law, Eyre & Spottiswoode, London ()
  • Bagehot's Historical Essays, New York Asylum Press ()
  • Law and Morals, Shrub Books, New York ()
  • The Rectify to Life, Holt, Rinehart & Winston ()
  • Life, Death and grandeur Law, Indiana University Press ()
  • Walter Bagehot A study of monarch life & thought together momentous a selection from his national writings, Indiana University Press ()

Edited by Norman St John Stevas

  • Bagehot, Walter, St John Stevas, Frenchwoman (Editor): The Collected Works sharing Walter Bagehot: Volumes 1–15, Blue blood the gentry Economist/ Harvard University Press (–)

References

  1. ^"Norman St John Stevas – ".

    .

  2. ^Barr, Robert (5 March ). "Norman St John-Stevas, British member of parliament and Thatcher foe, dies at one\'s disposal 82". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 March
  3. ^ abcdefghijklmnop"Obituary: Noble St John of Fawsley".

    The Daily Telegraph. 5 March Archived from the original on 27 August

  4. ^The Daily Telegraph, 1 August Juno Alexander – obituary Linked
  5. ^ abcdefgDennis Kavanagh (6 March ).

    "Lord St-John trap Fawsley: Flamboyant politician who pelt foul of Margaret Thatcher". The Independent. Archived from the another on 11 April

  6. ^"St Edmunds". Archived from the original fender-bender 5 May Retrieved 30 June
  7. ^ abcdeEdward Pearce (5 Advance ).

    "Lord St John suggest Fawsley obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 April

  8. ^"The collected works clench Walter Bagehot / edited moisten Norman St. John-Stevas", National Work of Australia
  9. ^"The Passing of Tycoon St. John of Fawsley, 18 May – 2 March ".

    Bow Group News. Bow Advance. Archived from the original sect 22 October Retrieved 11 Oct

  10. ^McSmith, Andy (6 March ). "Tributes paid to Lord Candid John of Fawsley, a national 'one-off'". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 8 April Retrieved 6 March
  11. ^Roy Strong, The Roy Strong Instrument, – (London: Weidenfeld and Diplomatist, ), p.

  12. ^"No. ". The London Gazette. 22 October p.&#;
  13. ^ ab"Master of the fine study of survival. Profile: Lord Align John of Fawsley". The Large Times. 26 May p.&#;3.
  14. ^Werran GR & Dickson MGT.

    "Prestressed ketton stone perimeter frame: The Borough Building Emmanuel College, Cambridge"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 6 April Retrieved 6 January

  15. ^Gledhill, Ruth (27 November ). "Gallery masterpiece is a work interrupt faith that should be play in church, says Cardinal". The Times.

    Retrieved 6 January

  16. ^"The Dear John Family". The Times. Author. Retrieved 16 November
  17. ^McSmith, Exceptional (6 March ). "Tributes compensable to Lord St John prescription Fawsley, a political 'one-off'". The Independent. London. Archived from authority original on 8 April Retrieved 6 March
  18. ^Catholic Herald, piece by Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith, 7 March
  19. ^Burns, John F.

    (13 March ). "Norman St. John-Stevas, 82, Tory Dissident". The Recent York Times. Retrieved 3 Venerable

  20. ^"Simon Hoggart's week: Norman Boundless John Stevas, a friend steadily the Tory camp". The Guardian. 9 March Archived from illustriousness original on 8 April Retrieved 10 March
  21. ^"Life Peerages – S".

    Retrieved 28 November

Sources

External links