Shelagh Roberts

Dame Shelagh Marjorie Roberts DBE (13 October 1924 – 16 January 1992) was a British Conservative party politician who served on the Greater London Council from 1970 to 1981 and represented London South West in the European Parliament from 1979 to 1989. Her service in the European Parliament was briefly interrupted in 1979 when it was discovered she held an office of profit under the Crown and she was disqualified from serving. She subsequently resigned the office, and was re-elected a few months later.

After defeat for re-election to the European Parliament in 1989 she was made Chairman of the London Tourist Board, serving until her death. It was announced on 31 December 1991 that she was to be created a life peer, but she died before this process could be completed.

Early life

Roberts was born in Port Talbot, Wales on 13 October 1924 and was educated at Milford Haven County School, Ystalyfera School and then St. Wyburn School at Birkdale.[1] After leaving school she started work with the Inland Revenue in Liverpool.[1]

Politics

In 1964 Roberts stood as a candidate in the general election for Caernarfon, she was heavily defeated by the incumbent Goronwy Roberts, then a Minister of State in the Labour government.[1]

From 1953 to 1971 Roberts was a member of Kensington Borough Council and the Greater London Council from 1970 to 1981.[1] In 1981 she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her political work.[1] She was a member of Port of London Authority, Basildon Development Corporation and the Race Relations Board and in October 1989 was appointed chairman of the London Tourist Board.[1]

Europe

In 1979 Roberts became a member of the European Parliament representing London South West in what was the first direct elections to the European parliament.[1] When it was discovered she was a member of the Occupational Pensions Board, which means she received a small salary from the Crown, her election was declared invalid.[1] She resigned from the Board and was elected again to the European Parliament.[1] She lost her seat to a Labour candidate in 1989.[1]

Life Peer

In recognition for her political work she was appointed a Life Peer in the 1992 New Year Honours, she died from cancer on 16 January 1992 aged 67 before she could take her seat in the House of Lords.[1] Roberts had never married.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 "Dame Sheiagh Roberts." Times [London, England] 20 Jan. 1992: 14. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 31 May 2014.