Martin Woodnutt

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Harold Frederick Martin Woodnutt (23 November 1918 – 6 November 1974)(known as "Mark Woodnutt") was a British Conservative Party politician, chartered secretary and company director of Woodnutts - a boat bulding firm at Bembridge.

He was Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight from 1959 to 1974. In February of that year, he lost the seat by 7,766 votes to the Liberal candidate Stephen Ross despite having won a huge 17,326 majority over Labour in 1970. This was attributed to Woodnutt's involvement in a financial scandal involving Bembridge Harbour. With the closure of the railway, British Rail were left in possession of much of the land at Bembridge Harbour, which they sold to a firm with which Woodnutt had close connections. It was said that this had not been properly tendered and that his position as an M.P. gave him privileged access, and consquent control of the Harbour. After this event prominent graffiti sites referring to Woodnutt and his business partner Major Selwyn (proprietor of the Royal Spithead Hotel on the harbour) in unflattering terms began to appear around the local area. Subsequently, the Isle of Wight remained a marginal seat for many years. Nine months after his defeat, Woodnutt died at the age of 55.

[edit] References

• Times Guide to the House of Commons 1974
• The Almanac of British Politics 1999
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir Peter Macdonald	Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight 1959–Feb. 1974	Succeeded by Stephen Ross