Thelma Cazalet-Keir

Thelma Cazalet-Keir CBE, née Cazalet, (28 May 1899 – 13 January 1989) was a British feminist and Conservative Party politician.

She was born in London, the third child and only daughter of William Marshall Cazalet (1865–1932), and Maud Lucia née Heron-Maxwell (died 1952). Her father was a wealthy socialite, and in her childhood she met many leading figures of the day, including Rudyard Kipling, Sylvia Pankhurst and Beatrice Webb. Her mother was a feminist Christian Scientist and a strong influence on her daughter. Her brother Victor would also serve as a Conservative MP.

Cazalet was educated at home by governesses, and later attended lectures at the London School of Economics. She was a close friend of Megan Lloyd George, daughter of Prime Minister David Lloyd George and later a Member of Parliament (MP).

She entered local politics in Kent, where the family had a country house, and in 1924 was elected to the London County Council, remaining a councilor until she became an alderman in 1931.

Cazalet contested the Islington East by-election in 1931, finishing third in a four-way contest. She stood again in the Islington East constituency at the general election in October 1931, winning the seat from the by-election winner, Labour's Leah Manning. She held the seat until her defeat at the 1945 general election by the Labour candidate, Eric Fletcher.

References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Leah Manning
Member of Parliament for Islington East
19311945
Succeeded by
Eric Fletcher