Richard Moore (Liberal politician)

Richard Gillachrist Moore (20 February 1931 – 15 May 2019), was a British journalist and Liberal Party politician. He was a leader writer at the News Chronicle and speechwriter to the Liberal Party Leader.

For the Australian politician, see Richard Moore (Australian politician).

Background

Moore was born in London, the younger son of Sir Alan Moore and Hilda Mary Burrows. He was educated at Highfield School, Liphook and Radley College, Berkshire, gaining an exhibition to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1949. He was President of Cambridge University Liberal Club in 1953 and President of Cambridge Union in 1955. He was also Chairman of the Union of University Liberal Societies.[1]

In 1955 he married Ann Miles. They had two sons Charles and Rowan, and daughter, seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.[2]

Professional career

Moore was a leader writer for the News Chronicle (1956–60). He was secretary to the Liberal peers from 1960 and then political secretary and speechwriter to Jeremy Thorpe from 1967 to 1973.[3] He was secretary general of Liberal International.[2]

Political career

Moore was Liberal candidate for Tavistock at the general elections of 1955 and 1959,[4] Cambridgeshire 1961 and 1964, North Antrim 1966 and 1970 and North Norfolk in both 1974 elections. He did not stand for parliament again.[5] He was Liberal candidate in the 1984 European Elections for Somerset and Dorset West.

Electoral record
General election 1955: Tavistock[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Studholme 18,991 54.8
Labour Harold Lawrance 8,755 25.2
Liberal Richard Moore 6,937 20.0
Majority 10,236 29.5
Turnout 34,683 76.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1959: Tavistock[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Studholme 19,778 53.7
Liberal Richard Moore 9,008 24.5
Labour Bryan R Weston 8,022 21.8
Majority 10,770 29.3
Turnout 36,808 78.5
Conservative hold Swing
1961 Cambridgeshire by-election[8][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Pym 17,643 45.9 −12.0
Labour Robert M D Davies 11,566 30.1 −12.0
Liberal Richard Moore 9,219 24.0 n/a
Majority 6,077 15.8 +0.0
Turnout 38,428 62.4 −15.6
Conservative hold Swing +0.0
General election 1964: Cambridgeshire[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Pym 24,883 48.0 +2.1
Labour Evan L Rutherford 17,636 34.0 +3.9
Liberal Richard Moore 9,347 18.0 −6.0
Majority 7,247 14.0
Turnout 51,866 79.8 +17.4
Conservative hold Swing −0.9
General election 1966: North Antrim
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ulster Unionist Henry Clark 31,927 78.1 –12.0
Ulster Liberal Richard Moore 8,941 21.9 n/a
Majority 22,986 56.2 –24.1
Turnout 40,868 56.7 –6.4
Registered electors 72,039
Ulster Unionist hold Swing
General election 1970: North Antrim
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Protestant Unionist Ian Paisley 24,130 41.2 n/a
Ulster Unionist Henry Clark 21,451 36.6 –41.5
NI Labour Patrick McHugh 6,476 11.0 n/a
National Democratic Alasdair McDonnell 4,312 7.4 n/a
Ulster Liberal Richard Moore 2,269 3.9 –18.0
Majority 2,679 4.6 –51.6
Turnout 58,638 73.4 +16.7
Registered electors 79,930
Protestant Unionist gain from Ulster Unionist Swing
General election February 1974: North Norfolk
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Howell 35,684 47.6 -7.7
Labour D. M. Mason 21,394 28.6 -16.1
Liberal Richard Moore 17,853 23.8
Majority 14,290 19.0 +8.5
Turnout 74,931 83.4 +3.1
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: North Norfolk
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Howell 33,312 48.1 +0.5
Labour D. M. Mason 22,191 32.0 +3.4
Liberal Richard Moore 13,776 19.9 -3.9
Majority 11,121 16.1 -2.9
Turnout 69,279 76.5 -6.9
Conservative hold Swing
European Parliament election, 1984: Somerset and Dorset West[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Margaret Daly 98,928 50.9 n/a
Liberal Richard Moore 58,677 30.2 n/a
Labour Jane Linden 38,863 18.9 n/a
Majority 40,251 20.7 n/a
Turnout 36.0 n/a
Conservative win (new seat)

References
  1. The Times House of Commons, 1955
  2. Richard Moore obituary, The Guardian
  3. Richard Moore obituary, The Telegraph
  4. The Times House of Commons, 1959
  5. British Parliamentary Election Results 1974-1983, FWS Craig
  6. British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  7. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973
  8. F. W. S. Craig (1971), British Parliamentary Election Results, 1950-1970. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services.
  9. "1961 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  10. United Kingdom European Parliamentary Election results 1979-99: England: Part 2
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