Anthony Thomas Smith QC (21 June 1935 – 15 September 2017)[1] was a British lawyer and Liberal Party politician.

Background

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Smith was born the son of Sydney Ernest Smith and Winston Victoria Smith. He was educated at Northampton, Stafford, and Hinckley Grammar Schools, and at King's College, Cambridge (Exhibitioner; MA). In 1959 he married Letitia Ann Wheldon Griffith. They had one son and two daughters.[2]

Professional career

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Smith was Called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1958. He served as a Flying Officer in the RAF from 1958 to 1960, then returned to his legal career. He was founder and Chairman of the Birmingham Free Representation Scheme. He was made a QC in 1977 and appointed as a Recorder.[3] He was made a Bencher in 1985.[4]

Political career

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Smith was Liberal candidate for the Northampton division at the 1959 General Election. The constituency was a Labour/Conservative marginal and the Liberals had not run a candidate since coming a poor third in 1950. His prospects were not good and the party did not improve on its position.[5]

Electoral record

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General Election 1959: Northampton[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Reginald Thomas Guy Des Voeux Paget 27,823 46.30 −6.45
Conservative Joan Christabel Jill Knight 25,106 41.77 −5.48
Liberal Anthony Thomas Smith 7,170 11.93 N/A
Majority 2,717 4.52 −0.98
Turnout 60,099 82.87 +0.27
Registered electors 72,521
Labour hold Swing -0.49

References

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  1. ^ "Obituary notice, The Times". legacy.com. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  2. ^ ‘SMITH, Anthony Thomas’, Who's Who 2016, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2015; online edn, Nov 2015 accessed 20 July 2016
  3. ^ "No. 47194". The London Gazette. 12 April 1977. p. 4891.
  4. ^ ‘SMITH, Anthony Thomas’, Who's Who 2016, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2015; online edn, Nov 2015 accessed 20 July 2016
  5. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1983, FWS Craig
  6. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1959". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.