Lewis Stevens Explained

Lewis Stevens
Office:Member of Parliament
for Nuneaton
Term Start:9 June 1983
Term End:16 March 1992
Predecessor:Les Huckfield
Birth Date:13 April 1936
Nationality:British
Party:Conservative

Lewis David Stevens (13 April 1936 – 15 January 2023) was a British Conservative Party politician.

Life and career

Stevens was educated at Oldbury Grammar School, the University of Liverpool, and Lanchester College, Coventry. He carried out national service with the Royal Air Force, and then worked in the motor industry as an engineer.

Stevens was a member of Nuneaton Borough Council from 1966 to 1972.[1] [2]

On his second attempt, Stevens was elected Member of Parliament for the marginal seat of Nuneaton in 1983, after the Labour incumbent Les Huckfield stood down to seek another seat. His election was aided by recent boundary changes, and a substantial swing of Labour voters to the SDP. He served until his defeat by Labour's Bill Olner at the 1992 general election.

In Parliament, he was on the right wing of the party, supporting capital punishment, but did rebel on proposals to limit student grants.[3] He served as a PPS to Colin Moynihan 1989-92 and David Heathcoat-Amory 1990–92.[2]

After leaving Parliament, he returned to work as a management and industrial consultant.[3]

Subsequently, he served as President of the Nuneaton Conservative Association.

Stevens died on 15 January 2023, at the age of 86.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: . 1983 . The Times Guide to the House of Commons, June 1983 . London . Times Books . 179 . 0-7230-0255-X.
  2. Book: Wood . Alan H. . Wood . Roger . 1992 . The Times Guide to the House of Commons, April 1992 . London . Times Books . 180 . 0-7230-0497-8.
  3. News: Lewis Stevens, unpretentious Thatcherite MP for Nuneaton in the 1980s – obituary . The Telegraph . 16 February 2023.
  4. Web site: Nuneaton has lost a 'true servant' as tributes paid after former MP Lewis Stevens dies. Coventry Telegraph. Claire. Harrison. 17 January 2023. 1 February 2023.
  5. The date is given either as 17 January (obituary in the Daily Telegraph) or 15 January (funeral notice published by the family in the Coventry Telegraph).