Selwyn Lloyd facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Selwyn-Lloyd CH CBE TD PC QC DL
Lloyd in 1960
Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
In office 12 January 1971 – 3 February 1976
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Edward Heath Harold Wilson
Preceded by	Horace King
Succeeded by	George Thomas
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
In office 16 October 1964 – 4 August 1965
Leader	Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Preceded by	Herbert Bowden
Succeeded by	Fred Peart
Leader of the House of Commons Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
In office 18 October 1963 – 16 October 1964
Prime Minister	Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Preceded by	Iain Macleod
Succeeded by	The Earl of Longford
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office 27 July 1960 – 13 July 1962
Prime Minister	Harold Macmillan
Preceded by	Derick Heathcoat Amory
Succeeded by	Reginald Maudling
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
In office 22 December 1955 – 27 July 1960
Prime Minister	Anthony Eden Harold Macmillan
Preceded by	Harold Macmillan
Succeeded by	The Earl of Home
Minister of Defence
In office 7 April 1955 – 20 December 1955
Prime Minister	Anthony Eden
Preceded by	Harold Macmillan
Succeeded by	Sir Walter Monckton
Minister of Supply
In office 18 October 1954 – 7 April 1955
Prime Minister	Sir Winston Churchill
Preceded by	Duncan Sandys
Succeeded by	Reginald Maudling
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
In office 8 March 1976 – 18 May 1978 Life peerage
Member of Parliament for Wirral
In office 5 July 1945 – 11 March 1976
Preceded by	Alan Crosland Graham
Succeeded by	David Hunt
Personal details
Born	John Selwyn Brooke Lloyd (1904-07-28)28 July 1904 West Kirby, Cheshire, England
Died	18 May 1978(1978-05-18) (aged 73) Preston Crowmarsh, Oxfordshire, England
Political party	Liberal (before 1945) Conservative (1945–1971) None (after 1971)
Spouse	Elizabeth Marshall ​ ​ (m. 1951; div. 1957)​ (died 2010)
Children	1
Alma mater	Fettes College Magdalene College, Cambridge
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1937–1955
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Royal Artillery
Battles/wars	Second World War Operation Overlord Falaise Pocket Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine Operation Plunder
Awards	Commander of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in despatches (2x) Territorial Decoration Legion of Merit (Commander)

John Selwyn Brooke Selwyn-Lloyd, Baron Selwyn-Lloyd (28 July 1904 – 18 May 1978) was an important British politician. He was born and grew up in Cheshire, England. As a young man in the 1920s, he was active in the Liberal Party.

In the 1930s, he worked as a barrister (a type of lawyer). He also served on the local council in Hoylake. During the Second World War, he rose to a high rank in the army. He helped plan the sea transport for the Normandy beachhead invasion.

After the war, he was elected to Parliament in 1945 as a Conservative. He held many important government jobs starting in 1951. He became Foreign Secretary in 1955 under Prime Minister Anthony Eden. This was during the Suez Crisis, a big international event. He then became Chancellor of the Exchequer (in charge of the country's money) in 1960. He tried to control the economy, but his policies were not always popular.

In 1962, the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, removed him from his job. This event was part of a big government change. Later, he returned to government as Leader of the House of Commons in 1963. From 1971 until his retirement in 1976, he served as Speaker of the House of Commons.

Early Life and Education

John Selwyn Brooke Lloyd was born on 28 July 1904 in West Kirby, Cheshire. His father, John Wesley Lloyd, was a dental surgeon. His mother was Mary Rachel Warhurst. He had three sisters.

Lloyd went to the Leas School. He was very interested in military history as a boy. This interest helped him later in his army career. In 1918, at age thirteen, he won a scholarship to Fettes College.

University Days at Cambridge

In October 1923, he went to Magdalene College, Cambridge. He became friends with Michael Ramsey, who later became an Archbishop. Lloyd was nicknamed "Peter" during this time. He played rugby but did not achieve a "Blue," which is an award for top university athletes.

Lloyd was an active member of the Liberal Party as a young man. He became President of the Cambridge University Liberal Club. He was also a strong debater in the Cambridge Union Society. He graduated from Cambridge in 1928.

Early Career and Public Service

Working as a Lawyer and Local Councillor

After university, Lloyd focused on his legal career. He became a barrister in 1930. He was known for being a strong debater in court.

In 1932, he joined the Hoylake Urban District Council as a councillor. He managed a large budget for the council. At 32, he became the youngest chairman of the council. He served on the council until 1940.

Military Service in World War II

Lloyd became a reserve officer in the army in 1937. In 1939, he helped create a new unit of the Royal Horse Artillery. He became a second lieutenant in June 1939.

He attended the Staff College, Camberley in 1939. Many lawyers, business people, and teachers were sent there to learn staff work. He was one of 22 officers chosen for immediate staff duty. By 1942, he was a lieutenant colonel. He wanted to fight, but his commanders saw his talent for staff work.

Working with the Second Army

In 1943, Lloyd joined the staff of the Second Army. This army was preparing for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Europe. He was given an award, the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), in June 1943.

By February 1944, he was Deputy Chief of Staff of the Second Army. He worked very hard preparing for the Normandy landings. His main job was to plan the "loading tables." This meant deciding how to fit men, weapons, and supplies onto ships. His work helped the invasion go smoothly.

In October 1944, he was chosen as the Conservative candidate for Wirral. He was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in February 1945. He also became an acting brigadier in March 1945. He was mentioned in official reports twice for his service.

Lloyd was with the Allied forces that freed the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. He ended his active army service with the honorary rank of colonel. He also received the U.S. Legion of Merit award.

Early Parliamentary Career

Lloyd was elected to the House of Commons in the 1945 general election. He represented the Wirral area.

His first speech in Parliament was about a bill concerning trade unions. This showed his long-standing interest in the topic. He worked closely with other rising Conservative politicians.

He continued his legal career, becoming a Queen's Counsel in 1947. He also served as a judge in Wigan from 1948 to 1951.

Lloyd was against capital punishment (the death penalty). He also played a role in setting up ITV, a commercial television network, in 1955. He believed competition would improve television standards.

Serving as a Government Minister

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

When the Conservatives returned to power in 1951, Lloyd became the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. He worked under Anthony Eden, the Foreign Secretary.

In 1952, Lloyd visited Korea to learn about the Korean War. He also visited Egypt, where he met the new Egyptian leaders. He helped negotiate a treaty that gave Sudan self-government. Lloyd attended many Cabinet meetings, sometimes filling in for Eden when he was ill.

Minister of Supply and Minister of Defence

In October 1954, Lloyd was promoted to Minister of Supply. This role involved providing supplies for the armed forces.

In April 1955, he joined the Cabinet as Minister of Defence. This was a very important job. He worked on plans for long-term spending for the military. He also started a process to bring the different armed forces ministries together.

Foreign Secretary under Prime Minister Eden

Taking on the Foreign Secretary Role

Lloyd became Foreign Secretary in December 1955. He replaced Harold Macmillan.

He visited Washington in January 1956 for talks with the US Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles. They discussed how to deal with Colonel Nasser, the leader of Egypt.

The Suez Crisis

The Suez Crisis began on 26 July 1956. Nasser took control of the Suez Canal. The British Cabinet decided to oppose this action. They believed the Canal was an international waterway.

Lloyd was part of the "Egypt Committee," which discussed the crisis. He preferred to find a peaceful solution. He was also unsure if a military invasion would work.

Dulles visited London, saying Nasser needed to "disgorge" the Canal. British army reservists were called up. Lloyd had difficult meetings with the Suez Canal Company directors.

The first London Conference was held in August. Lloyd helped negotiate a new plan for the Canal. He wanted Egypt to get more money from the Canal. He also wanted Egypt to have a place on a new operating company's board.

President Eisenhower of the USA opposed the use of force. This made negotiations harder. Nasser rejected the proposals from the London Conference. The British Cabinet then agreed to a plan to cut off Nasser's Canal income.

Lloyd chaired a second London Conference in September. He wanted to appeal to the United Nations (UN) to protect navigation rights. He then flew to New York for UN talks.

Negotiations in New York

In New York, Lloyd met with the French and Egyptian foreign ministers. They worked on "Six Principles" for the Canal. These principles aimed to ensure the Canal was not controlled by just one country.

While Lloyd was away, some British politicians wanted stronger action against Nasser. On 14 October, French officials met with Prime Minister Eden. They discussed a secret plan for Israel to attack Egypt. Britain and France would then intervene to protect the Canal. Eden called Lloyd back from New York.

Lloyd's Doubts and the Secret Meeting

Lloyd arrived back in London tired from his trip. He was told about the French plan. He had doubts about it but was persuaded by Eden to go to Paris.

In Paris, Eden and Lloyd met with French leaders. Lloyd continued to express his concerns. He wanted international control over Canal tolls. The French insisted that the US was delaying action. They also argued that Israel could attack Egypt in self-defence.

Lloyd returned to London. He reported on the UN Security Council meeting. He still hoped for a peaceful solution. However, the British Ambassador to Egypt warned that Nasser would not compromise. This made a peaceful deal seem unlikely.

The Sevres Protocol and the Ultimatum

On 22 October, Lloyd went to Sevres, near Paris, in secret. He met with French and Israeli officials. He expressed British concerns about using force. He also discussed the timing of any British airstrikes.

The next day, Lloyd reported to senior ministers and the Cabinet. He said there had been secret talks with Israel. He also mentioned that an Israeli attack seemed less likely. However, the secret "Protocol of Sevres" was signed later that day. This document outlined the plan for Israel to attack Egypt, followed by Anglo-French intervention. Lloyd was not present for the signing.

On 25 October, Eden told the Cabinet about the plan for an Anglo-French invasion. He did not mention the secret Sevres Protocol.

Israel attacked Egypt on 29 October. On 30 October, Eden announced an Anglo-French ultimatum to the House of Commons. Britain and France began bombing Egypt on 31 October. This action was met with strong opposition from the Labour Party, the USA, and many Commonwealth countries.

Lloyd stated in the Commons that Britain had not "incited" Israel's action. He considered this a careful legal statement.

Ceasefire and Withdrawal

On 2 November, the UN General Assembly voted for a ceasefire. The British Cabinet agreed to a ceasefire. British and French paratroopers landed on 5 November. By 6 November, they had taken Port Said. A ceasefire was announced at 5pm.

The UN General Assembly called for British, French, and Israeli forces to withdraw. Lloyd initially wanted a peacekeeping force to replace them. However, the Americans insisted on a total British withdrawal.

Lloyd flew to New York for more UN talks. He met with John Foster Dulles, who was ill. On 20 November, the Cabinet discussed the issue of "collusion" (secret agreement) with Israel. They decided to stick to Lloyd's statement that Britain had not "incited" the Israeli attack.

Lloyd returned to London in late November. He told the Cabinet that Britain should withdraw. He felt there was nothing to gain by upsetting world opinion further. He offered to resign, but his colleagues refused.

He faced strong criticism in the House of Commons. Labour MPs blamed him for the invasion. Some Conservative MPs criticized him for the withdrawal. On 5 December, the House of Commons held a "No Confidence" debate on Suez. The government won the vote.

Foreign Secretary under Prime Minister Macmillan

Staying in the Role

When Anthony Eden resigned in January 1957, Harold Macmillan became Prime Minister. Macmillan kept Lloyd as Foreign Secretary. He said that "one head on a charger is enough," meaning Eden's resignation was enough. Macmillan allowed Lloyd more freedom in his role.

Lloyd accompanied Macmillan to Bermuda in March 1957. There, Anglo-American relations improved. They also agreed to release Archbishop Makarios, a move that caused some disagreement in the Cabinet.

Key Events as Foreign Secretary

In May 1958, Lloyd helped coordinate with the US when Lebanon asked for help. British troops were sent to Jordan. Lloyd also worked on a Greek-Turkish agreement for Cyprus in December 1958.

In early 1959, Lloyd accompanied Macmillan on a trip to Moscow. This trip aimed to improve relations with the Soviet Union. Lloyd was praised for his detailed work and support during the summit. He also attended a Foreign Ministers' conference in Geneva in June 1959. This conference led to an invitation for Soviet leader Khrushchev to visit Washington.

Lloyd supported Macmillan's "Winds of Change" speech in February 1960. This speech predicted the end of European rule in Africa. In March 1960, Lloyd considered becoming Lord Chancellor, a top legal position.

Agreement was reached over Cyprus in July 1960, just before Lloyd left the Foreign Office.

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Taking Charge of the Economy

In July 1960, Macmillan moved Lloyd to the job of Chancellor of the Exchequer. This meant he was in charge of the country's finances. Lloyd was Macmillan's third Chancellor. He was allowed to keep using Chequers, the Prime Minister's country residence, and a London residence.

Macmillan wanted to boost economic growth. However, Lloyd warned Macmillan that he intended to be a traditional Chancellor. The economy was booming, but there was a risk of inflation. Britain's share of world manufacturing was also falling.

Lloyd's first Budget in April 1961 aimed to control inflation and public spending. He introduced "the Regulator," which allowed him to change indirect taxes quickly. He also raised the tax threshold for higher earners.

By summer 1961, there was a threat to the British pound. Lloyd announced measures to fix this on 25 July. These included raising interest rates and cutting public spending. He also announced a "Pay Pause" until March 1962. This policy froze pay rises for many public sector workers. It made Lloyd unpopular with the public.

National Economic Development Council

Lloyd announced a new economic planning body. This was the National Economic Development Council (NEDC). It aimed to bring together industry and trade union leaders. Lloyd chaired the NEDC. He hoped it would help boost the economy.

In October 1961, Henry Brooke was appointed to a new role, Chief Secretary to the Treasury. This helped Lloyd manage government spending.

Second Budget and Political Challenges

The Pay Pause ended on 31 March 1962. Lloyd presented a White Paper on Incomes Policies. It suggested a "Guiding Light" of 2.5% for pay increases. This meant the government expected pay to rise by about 2.5%.

In March 1962, the Liberal Party won a surprising victory in a by-election in Orpington. Many blamed the Pay Pause for this defeat.

In April 1962, Lloyd faced a Cabinet challenge over a tax on house values. He promised to end this tax the following year. His 1962 Budget aimed for 4% annual economic growth. He also increased profits tax and introduced a tax on speculative gains. He reduced purchase tax on some goods but increased it on sweets and soft drinks. This led to criticism that he was "taxing children's pocket money."

Dismissal from Office

Macmillan decided to remove Lloyd from his position. He wanted a new Chancellor to boost the economy before the next election. On 12 July, the news of Lloyd's upcoming dismissal was leaked to the press.

That evening, Lloyd was removed from the government. The next day, Macmillan made many other changes in what became known as the "Night of the Long Knives." Lloyd was replaced by Reginald Maudling.

Lloyd was seen as having been treated unfairly. He was cheered by other MPs when he returned to the House of Commons. He was appointed a Companion of Honour on 20 July 1962. He later wrote that he tried not to feel "bitter resentment" towards Macmillan.

Out of Office and Return to Government

Lloyd did not consider his political career over. He declined offers for other jobs. Macmillan later told Lloyd that sacking him had been a mistake.

Lloyd became popular with Conservative Party members. He traveled the country to write a report on party organization. His report, published in 1963, suggested having more paid staff in key areas.

In October 1963, when Macmillan announced his resignation, Lloyd supported Alec Douglas-Home for party leader. He helped gather support for Home.

Return to the Front Bench

Lloyd was called back to government by Alec Douglas-Home in 1963. He refused the Home Office job. He was appointed Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal. He was popular and respected in his new role.

Lloyd helped discourage Peter Thorneycroft from running for Conservative leadership in 1965. He supported Maudling, who lost to Edward Heath.

As Shadow Commonwealth Secretary, Lloyd visited Australia and New Zealand in late 1965. He also visited Rhodesia in February 1966. He told Prime Minister Ian Smith that white minority rule could not last. He returned to the backbenches (a regular MP role) in 1966 at his own request.

Speaker of the House of Commons

In 1971, after the Conservatives won the election, Lloyd became Speaker. He was elected by a large majority.

As Speaker, he aimed to let as many members as possible speak. He also increased the number of deputy speakers to help with the workload. He was known for his "selective deafness," meaning he sometimes ignored minor outbursts.

He retired as Speaker on 3 February 1976. He was then made a life peer, becoming Baron Selwyn-Lloyd.

Later Life and Legacy

As a life peer, Lloyd sat in the House of Lords. He lived in Preston Crowmarsh, Oxfordshire. He did a lot of charity work. He died at home on 17 May 1978.

Lloyd remained friendly with Anthony Eden. They worked together on Eden's memoirs and shared information with historians about Suez. In public, they maintained that there had been no secret agreement with Israel.

Lloyd wrote two books: "Mr Speaker, sir" (1976) and "Suez 1956: a Personal View" (1978). In Suez 1956, he admitted that the Sevres meeting had taken place. He insisted that Britain had acted in good faith and had not started the Israeli attack.

Lloyd was known for his cool and smart judgment. While sometimes seen as reserved in public, he could be friendly and charming in private. He was loyal to his colleagues.

His obituaries often focused on his role in the Suez Crisis. However, he would have preferred to be remembered for his work on broadcasting and for setting up the NEDC.

Some people thought he was not strong enough as Chancellor. However, others argued that he was an innovative Chancellor. His dismissal by Macmillan was seen by some as a turning point in economic policy.

Images for kids

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  Lloyd in 1960