Tam Galbraith

Sir Thomas Galloway Dunlop Galbraith, known as Tam Galbraith, KBE (10 March 1917 – 2 January 1982) was a Scottish Unionist politician.

The Honourable
Sir Thomas Galbraith
KBE
Member of Parliament
for Glasgow Hillhead
In office
25 November 1948 – 2 January 1982
Preceded byJames Reid
Succeeded byRoy Jenkins
Personal details
Born
Thomas Galloway Dunlop Galbraith

10 March 1917
Died2 January 1982(1982-01-02) (aged 64)
Mauchline, Ayrshire
Scotland
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
NationalityScottish
Political partyUnionist (until 1965)
Conservative (until 1982)
SpouseSimone du Roy de Blicquy
ChildrenGhislaine Kennerley, Thomas Galbraith, Charles Galbraith
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford
University of Glasgow
NicknameTam Galbraith
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch/serviceRoyal Navy Reserve
Years of service1939–1946
RankLieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life

The eldest son and heir of Thomas Galbraith, 1st Baron Strathclyde, Galbraith was educated at Aytoun House, Glasgow; Wellington College; Christ Church, Oxford (MA), and at the University of Glasgow (LLB).

He served as a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1939–1946.

Political career

Galbraith unsuccessfully contested Paisley in July 1945, and Edinburgh East at a by-election in October 1945 before being elected for Glasgow Hillhead at a by-election in 1948. Galbraith won the seat with an increased majority, although his Labour rival's vote share was only slightly reduced. In victory, Galbraith expressed pleasure that the campaign between the parties had been "clean" and "friendly".[1] Commenting on the by-election, an editorial in The Glasgow Herald noted that he had increased the Unionist Party's majority by a third, which it argued was "a notable achievement by a young candidate succeeding one of the outstanding Unionist members of recent years."[2] It also criticised the view that the result was disappointing for Conservative and Unionists due to the fact that the result was not as good as that achieved in the recent Edmonton by-election, where the Conservative vote had substantially increased while Labour's vote fell significantly.[2]

He was Assistant Conservative Whip (1950), a Government Whip (1951–57), Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1957–59), Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (1959–62), and Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, (1963–64).

Vassal affair

During Galbraith's time at the Admiralty, questions were raised about his connection to the Soviet spy John Vassall, a former Admiralty employee, after letters from Galbraith were found in Vassall's possession. It was thought odd that a minister would communicate by post with an official of his own department, and there was considerable speculation of impropriety in the press. Given Vassall's known homosexuality, rumours began to circulate that Vassall and Galbraith were involved with each other and that Galbraith might have shielded Vassall from discovery.

The committee of civil servants originally established to probe the Vassall affair investigated the correspondence and declared it innocent, but the verdict was not universally accepted. Eventually the Prime Minister was compelled to open a wider inquiry, conducted by three jurists. This second inquiry determined that Vassall had not been helped or favoured by any of his seniors.

Vassall later denied in his memoirs that there had been any sexual relationship between the two men.[3]

Honours

Galbraith was President of the Scottish Georgian Society from 1970 to 1980 and was a Member of the Royal Company of Archers. He was knighted (KBE) in 1981.

Death and aftermath

Galbraith died at the start of 1982, while still a Member of Parliament. He had successfully fought ten elections and, with 33 years of service, was Scotland's longest-serving MP. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in response to his death, said she was "deeply saddened by his death, especially so soon after his knighthood had been announced."[4] The Glasgow Herald claimed he was known "as the quiet man of Scottish politics".[4]

Galbraith's death triggered a high-profile by-election for the Hillhead seat which would have a major impact on British politics. In the immediate aftermath of the news that Galbraith had died, Denis Sullivan, the chairman of the newly established Social Democratic Party in Scotland, indicated that the majority of the party in Scotland wished one of the SDP's founders, and former Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, Roy Jenkins, to be their candidate at the by-election.[5] Jenkins ultimately won the contest, enabling him to emerge as the person who would lead the SDP–Liberal Alliance at the next general election.[6]

Marriage and family

Galbraith married Simone Clotilde Fernande Marie Ghislaine Blicquy on 11 April 1956. They had three children:[7]

Galbraith predeceased his father, the 1st Baron. His elder son succeeded as 2nd Baron in 1985 and was subsequently a Conservative junior Minister, Chief Whip in the Lords and Leader of the House of Lords.

References
  1. "Labour Challenge Fails". The Glasgow Herald. 27 November 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  2. "Editorial - Hillhead". The Glasgow Herald. 27 November 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  3. Bloch, Michael (2015). Closet Queens. Little, Brown. p. 210. ISBN 978-1408704127.
  4. "Scotland's longest serving MP". The Glasgow Herald. 4 January 1982. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  5. Clark, William (4 January 1982). "SDP send for Roy Jenkins after death of Sir Thomas". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  6. Parkhouse, Geoffrey; Clark, William; Petrie, Gordon (26 March 1982). "Jenkins breaks the mould. A perfect birthday gift for the SDP". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  7. The Peerage, entry for Tam Galbraith
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