Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler

Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler (born 13 January 1934) is a British politician. In 1981, he defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the only Conservative Member of Parliament to do so.

Parliamentary career

After unsuccessfully contesting West Ham North in 1964, Brocklebank-Fowler entered Parliament as a Conservative MP at the 1970 general election, representing the constituency of King's Lynn. This seat was abolished at the February 1974 general election, and Brocklebank-Fowler was elected for the new North West Norfolk seat.

In 1981, Brocklebank-Fowler defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), crossing the floor during a parliamentary debate on the budget.[1][2] However, at the 1983 general election the Conservatives regained North West Norfolk with a majority of about 3,000. Brocklebank-Fowler contested the seat again at the 1987 general election, but lost by a much wider margin.

Later career

After the SDP's merger with the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats, Brocklebank-Fowler contested the South Norfolk constituency at the 1992 general election, but once again finished second. In 1996, Brocklebank-Fowler joined the Labour Party.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation". Hansard. 16 March 1981. pp. Series 6 Vol.1 c.43. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  2. ↑ Crewe, Ivor and King, Anthony, SDP: The Birth, Life and Death of the Social Democratic Party (Oxford University Press, 1995), p.99.
  3. ↑ Anthony Bevins "Ex-Tory MP makes Labour his latest stop", The Independent, 22 October 1996
  • Who's Who 2003 (A&C Black Ltd.)
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Derek Page		 Member of Parliament for King's Lynn
1970 – Feb 1974		 Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for North West Norfolk
Feb 1974 – 1983		 Succeeded by
Henry Bellingham
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