Nicholas Scott

The Right Honourable
Nicholas Scott
PC JP
Minister of State for Social Security
(Minister for the Disabled)
In office
13 June 1987 – 20 July 1994
(post transferred from Dept. of Health & Social Security
to Department of Social Security 25 July 1988)
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
John Major
Preceded by John Major
Succeeded by William Hague
Member of Parliament
for Chelsea
In office
10 October 1974 – 1 May 1997
Preceded by Marcus Worsley
Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Member of Parliament
for Paddington South
In office
31 March 1966 – 28 February 1974
Preceded by Robert Allan
Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born 5 August 1933
Died 6 January 2005 (aged 71)
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Elizabeth (divorced),
Cecilia
Children 2 daughters (1 deceased) and 1 son - Victoria and Christopher, by his first wife, Elizabeth.
1 daughter and 1 son - Patrick and Amber, by his second wife, Cecilia.[1]

Sir Nicholas Paul Scott PC JP (5 August 1933 – 6 January 2005) was a British Conservative Party politician.[2]

Biography

Scott was educated at Clapham College and was national chairman of the Young Conservatives in 1963. He served as a councillor on Holborn Borough Council 1956–59 and 1962–65.

Scott contested Islington South West at the 1959 general election and at the 1964 election.

He entered the House of Commons on his third attempt, at the 1966 general election, he was returned as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Paddington South constituency, beating Labour's Conrad Russell. When his seat was abolished in boundary changes for the February 1974 election, he stood in the new Paddington seat, but lost to the outgoing Paddington North MP Arthur Latham.

However, Marcus Worsley, the MP for the safe Conservative seat of Chelsea, decided to retire. Scott was selected as the new Conservative candidate, and at the October 1974 general election, he was returned with over 60% of the vote. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1989. A moderate Conservative, during his time in the House of Commons, he served as minister for social security, disabled people, Northern Ireland and employment. His period as Minister for the Disabled saw him come under attack from many campaigners, including his own daughter, a disability campaigner, when on behalf of the Government he 'talked out' the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill, a Private member's bill which aimed to outlaw discrimination on grounds of disability.[3] He was succeeded in this post by William Hague.

Scott remained MP for Chelsea until the seat was abolished at the 1997 general election. He was initially selected as the Conservative candidate for the new Kensington and Chelsea constituency, but was subsequently deselected after allegations of alcoholism surfaced following an incident in which he was found passed out in a gutter during the party conference in Bournemouth.[4]

Sources

References

  1. ↑ Roth, Andrew (2005) ""Obituary: Sir Nicholas Scott", The Guardian, 7 January 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Obituary: Sir Nicholas Scott". 7 January 2005. BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  3. ↑ Hansard, HC 6ser vol 243 cols 1077-1100.
  4. ↑ The Guardian

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Robert Allan		 Member of Parliament for Paddington South
1966 – February 1974 		Constituency abolished
Preceded by
Marcus Worsley		 Member of Parliament for Chelsea
October 1974 – 1997 		Constituency abolished
Political offices
Preceded by
John Major		 Minister of State for Social Security
(Minister for the Disabled)
(post transferred from Dept. of Health & Social Security
to Department of Social Security 25 July 1988)
1987-1994 		Succeeded by
William Hague