Brian Stewart Parkyn (28 April 1923 – 22 March 2006) was a British Labour Party politician.

Early years

Parkyn was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School,

Chelmsford Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...

, and at technical colleges. Like his father, Leslie Parkyn, in the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he was a

conscientious objector A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of conscience or religion. The term has also been extended to objecting to working for the military–indu ...

in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Career

He joined his uncle in the firm of Scott Bader, becoming a director in 1953. He was a council member of the British Plastics Federation. Parkyn was elected Member of Parliament for

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population was 106,940. Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire and seat of the Borough of Bedford local government district. Bedford was founded at a ford (crossin ...

in 1966, having first contested the seat in 1964, and ousting

Christopher Soames Arthur Christopher John Soames, Baron Soames, (12 October 1920 – 16 September 1987) was a British Conservative politician who served as a European Commissioner and the last Governor of Southern Rhodesia. He was previously Member of Parli ...

, son-in-law of

Sir Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

by a narrow majority. He notably served on the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology. In 1970 he lost his seat to the

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

Trevor Skeet; he attempted unsuccessfully to regain the seat in October 1974.

References

*''Times Guide to the House of Commons October 1974'' * *

External links

* 1923 births 2006 deaths British conscientious objectors Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1966–1970 People educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford {{England-Labour-UK-MP-stub