Bernard Braine
| The Right Honourable The Lord Braine of Wheatley PC | |
|---|---|
 Braine in Hanover, September 1983 | |
| Father of the House of Commons | |
|
In office 1987–1992 | |
| Preceded by | James Callaghan |
| Succeeded by | Edward Heath |
| Member of Parliament for Castle Point South East Essex (1955–1983) | |
|
In office 26 May 1955 – 10 April 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Bob Spink |
| Member of Parliament for Billericay | |
|
In office 23 February 1950 – 26 May 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Richard Body |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 June 1914 |
| Died | 5 January 2000 |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Unit | North Staffordshire Regiment |
Bernard Richard Braine, Baron Braine of Wheatley, PC (24 June 1914 – 5 January 2000) was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for over forty years, representing constituencies in Essex.
Early life
He was educated at Hendon County Grammar School, and served with the North Staffordshire Regiment in the Second World War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Parliamentary career
Having stood unsuccessfully for Leyton East in 1945, Braine was elected as MP for Billericay at the 1950 general election. When constituencies boundaries were revised for the 1955 election he was returned for the new South East Essex, and when that constituency was abolished for the 1983 general election, he was elected for the new Castle Point constituency, becoming Father of the House of Commons in 1987 after James Callaghan's elevation to the House of Lords.
He was chairman of the National Council on Alcoholism, and was a member of the Parliamentary Groups on Human Rights and against abortion. For many years he served as an unofficial ambassador of HM's government to the Polish Government-in-Exile in London. He was knighted in the 1972 New Year Honours, and appointed as a Privy Counsellor in 1985.
Later life
Braine stepped down from Parliament at the 1992 general election, and in August that year he was made a life peer Baron Braine of Wheatley, of Rayleigh in the County of Essex. He died in January 2000 at the age of 85.
References
- "Tory Stalwart dies". BBC News. 2000-01-05. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
- "In Memoriam Bernard Braine". Institute of Alcohol Studies. January 2000. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Bernard Braine
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Billericay 1950–1955 |
Succeeded by Richard Body |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for South East Essex 1955–1983 |
Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Castle Point 1983–1992 |
Succeeded by Bob Spink |
| Preceded by James Callaghan |
Father of the House 1987–1992 |
Succeeded by Edward Heath |
