In The News

Former junior minister Sir Rhodes Boyson passes away

Former junior minister Sir Rhodes Boyson passes away

TRIBUTES have been paid to the former MP and junior minister, Sir Rhodes Boyson, who has passed away at the age of 87.

Sir Rhodes had been a teacher and headmaster before turning to politics in the early 1970s.

He entered Parliament in 1974 as MP for Brent North and was soon championing traditional teaching methods and discipline in education debates.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher promoted him as a junior minister. He served under Education Secretary Sir Joseph, with posts in social security and environment to follow.

He also served as a Minister of State for Northern Ireland between 1984 and 1986. But he was never to serve in the Cabinet.

Following his spells in the lower ranks of Government, Sir Rhodes returned to the back benches where his bewhiskered presence made him a colourful and popular figure. 

He lost his parliamentary seat in 1997, but that did not stop Sir Rhodes from remaining in the public eye. He continued to support and write about a wide range of issues and would make regular appearances on television.

 

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