Jeffrey Thomas (politician)

Jeffrey Thomas QC (12 November 1933 – 17 May 1989) was a British politician.

For other people named Jeffrey Thomas, see Jeffrey Thomas (disambiguation).

Jeffrey Thomas
Born(1933-11-12)12 November 1933
Died17 May 1989(1989-05-17) (aged 55)
Pontypool
EducationAbertillery Grammar School
Alma materKing's College London
OccupationPolitician
Political partyLabour (until 1981; 1986–89)
SDP (1981–86)

Early life

Thomas was educated at Abertillery Grammar School and King's College London, where he was president of the Students Union 1955–56. He was a barrister, called to the bar by Gray's Inn in 1957, and was appointed Queen's Counsel. He was at one time thought of as a future Lord Chancellor.

Parliamentary career

After being defeated by 1,394 votes at Barry in 1966, Thomas was elected as a Labour Member of Parliament for Abertillery in 1970. In December 1981, he was one of a number of Labour MPs who defected to the new Social Democratic Party (SDP). His seat was abolished by boundary changes in 1983, and he stood that year in Cardiff West. He came third with 25.5% of the vote, which may have contributed to the victory of the Conservative Stefan Terlezki in a normally strong Labour seat.

He rejoined the Labour party in 1986.[1] He died in Pontypool, aged 55.

References
  1. "THOMAS, Jeffrey". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 2023 (online ed.). A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Sources


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