Peter Baker (UK politician)

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Peter Arthur David Baker MC (20 April 1921 – 14 November 1966) was a British Conservative politician and Member of Parliament (MP). He was the last MP to be expelled from the House of Commons.

Baker was educated at Eastbourne College and served in World War II with airborne formations in Europe and Africa, winning the Military Cross. He was captured in the Netherlands whilst working with the resistance, escaped twice but was recaptured on both occasions. He was originally commissioned into the Royal Artillery, but later transferred to the Intelligence Corps, reaching the rank of Captain. He became a publisher after the war.

Baker was first elected as MP for South Norfolk in the 1950 general election. Aged 28, he was then the youngest MP ("Baby of the House"). He was returned again in the 1951 general election and took an interest in agricultural matters in parliament.

When Baker's companies came into financial trouble, he forged signatures on letters purporting to guarantee their debts. This crime was discovered and Baker was subsequently convicted of uttering, forgery and fraud and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. On December 16, 1954, he was expelled from parliament. In the subsequent by-election in January 1955, South Norfolk elected Conservative John Hill as its new MP.

Baker was the last of three MPs expelled during the twentieth century, the others being Garry Allighan in 1947 and Horatio Bottomley in 1922.

[edit] Sources

• BBC News: Expulsion
• The Guardian: MPs are too good to be true

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Maj. Christopher Mayhew	Member of Parliament for South Norfolk 1950–1955 expelled 16 December 1954 after fraud conviction	Succeeded by John Hill
Preceded by Roy Jenkins	Baby of the House 1950	Succeeded by Thomas Teevan