Eric Deakins

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Eric Petro Deakins (born 7 October 1932) is a British Labour Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Walthamstow West from 1970 to 1974, and Walthamstow from 1974 to 1987.[1] He has also worked as an international public affairs consultant.[2]

Early life[]

Deakins was born as the elder son of the late Edward Deakins and Gladys Deakins. He was educated at Tottenham Grammar School and the London School of Economics, and became a commercial executive.[2] He served as a councillor on Tottenham Borough Council between 1958 and 1961, and from 1962 to 1963.[citation needed]

Political career[]

Deakins was unsuccessful in his first three attempts to be elected a Member of Parliament (MP), including in Finchley in 1959 against future Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Chigwell in 1966. However, he was later elected MP for Walthamstow West in 1970, reversing his by-election loss to the Conservatives of that seat in 1967.[2]

His maiden speech was made on 16 July 1970. Speaking in favour of the second reading of the Misuse Of Drugs Bill, he raised a series of reservations: "It attacks socially unacceptable drugs but does nothing about socially acceptable drugs."[3]

After boundary changes in 1974, Walthamstow West was merged into the new constituency of Walthamstow, which he continued to represent.[2]

During the Labour government of 1974–1979, Deakins was a junior minister for Trade (1974–1976) and the DHSS (1976–1979). He represented Walthamstow until he was defeated at the 1987 general election, gaining 34% of the vote compared to the 39% polled by his Conservative opponent Hugo Summerson. His defeat was against the national trend, but seemed to some political observers to follow a rates increase by the Labour-controlled Waltham Forest London Borough Council. As of 2021, this is the last time that Walthamstow has not been won by the Labour Party.[4][5][6]

Personal life[]

Outside politics, his interests are writing, cinema, yoga and football. In 1990, he married Sandra Weaver; they have a son and two daughters. He lives in Camden Town, north west London.[2]

Publications[]

  • A Faith to Fight For, 1964[2]
  • You And Your Member Of Parliament (with Nance Fyson), 1987[2]
  • What Future for Labour?, 1988[2]

References[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Mr Eric Deakins (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "Deakins, Eric Petro, (born 7 Oct. 1932), international public affairs consultant". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u13298. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  3. ^ Hansard, 16 July 1970
  4. ^ "Election history for Walthamstow (Constituency) - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Walthamstow (Constituency) 2005 results - General election results - UK Parliament". electionresults.parliament.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Walthamstow 1983- (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2021.

External links[]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Fred Silvester 		Member of Parliament for Walthamstow West
1970 – February 1974 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Walthamstow
February 1974 – 1987 		Succeeded by
Hugo Summerson


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