Sir Paul Latham, 2nd Baronet

Major Sir (Herbert) Paul Latham, 2nd Baronet (22 April 1905 – 24 July 1955)[1] was a British Conservative Party politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Scarborough and Whitby constituency from 1931 to 1941.

At the 1929 general election, he stood as the Conservative candidate in Rotherham, a safe seat for the Labour Party where he was runner-up with 23% of the votes.[2] However, in April 1931 the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, Sidney Herbert, resigned from the House of Commons. Latham was selected as the Conservative candidate for the resulting by-election on 6 May, which he won a majority of 5% of the votes over his Liberal Party opponent.[2]

In 1932 Latham took over Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex and carried on its restoration.

During World War II, despite being exempt from military service, Latham volunteered to join the army. In 1941, however, he was arrested[3] for "improper behaviour", a homosexual act, with three gunners and a civilian[4] while serving as an officer in the Royal Artillery. He then tried to kill himself by riding a motorcycle into a tree.[1][5] He was court-martialled and found guilty of ten charges of indecent conduct and was discharged dishonourably and imprisoned for two years without hard labour. He resigned his seat in Parliament,[6] by accepting the post of Steward of the Manor of Northstead, a nominal "office of profit under the crown" which disqualifies the holder from sitting in Parliament.

References

  1. ^ a b "Baronetcies: L (part 1)". Leigh Rayment's Baronetage pages. http://www.leighrayment.com/baronetage/baronetsL1.htm. Retrieved 30 November 2009. 
  2. ^ a b Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 229, 509. ISBN 0-900178-06-X. 
  3. ^ "Arrest of a member". House of Commons Debates 31 July 1941 vol 373 column 1540. Hansard 1803–2005. http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1941/jul/31/arrest-of-a-member#S5CV0373P0_19410731_HOC_264. Retrieved 30 November 2009. 
  4. ^ Hyde, Harford Montgomery (1970). The Love that Dared Not Speak Its Name: A Candid History of Homosexuality in Britain. Little, Brown. p. 212 
  5. ^ Knitting Circle
  6. ^ "United Kingdom II: 1900 to the Present". glbtq.com. 2007. http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/united_kingdom_02,6.html. Retrieved 2008-09-02 

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Sidney Herbert		 Member of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby
1931 – 1941		 Succeeded by
Alexander Spearman
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Thomas Paul Latham		 Baronet
( of Crow Clump)
1931–1955		 Succeeded by
Richard Thomas Paul Latham