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30-509: Derek Leslie Conway TD (born 15 February 1953) is an English politician and television presenter. A member of the Conservative Party , Conway served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Shrewsbury and Atcham from 1983 to 1997, and Old Bexley and Sidcup from 2001 to 2010. He is currently a presenter of Epilogue , a book review programme on Press TV , an English-language international television news channel funded by

60-463: A Member of Parliament . At the October 1974 general election he unsuccessfully contested the safe Labour parliamentary constituency of Durham , being defeated by the sitting member, Mark Hughes , by 18,116 votes. At the 1979 general election Conway contested the more marginal seat of Newcastle upon Tyne East and was again defeated, this time by Labour's Mike Thomas and by 6,176 votes. Conway

90-489: A "who's up, who's down" for the queen. Anne Milton , who held the post in 2014 and 2015, looked for things that "might amuse" the queen and to "give a bit of colour" to the proceedings in the House of Commons . The Queen reportedly told Jim Fitzpatrick , who held the post of Vice-Chamberlain between 2003 and 2005 to send her news which "doesn't make the press" and that he felt encouraged to be "frank and transparent" with her due to

120-628: A Territorial Army officer it was officially known as Efficiency Decoration (Territorial), but it continued to be known informally as the Territorial Decoration and the recipient officially used the letters TD after their name. The Efficiency Decoration was itself replaced in 1999 by the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal , awarded to all ranks in all services. For members of the Honourable Artillery Company

150-672: A daily private report to the Sovereign on proceedings in the House of Commons and to relay addresses from the Commons to the Sovereign and back. As a member of the Royal Household, the Vice-Chamberlain accompanies the Sovereign and Royal Household at certain diplomatic and social events, particularly the annual garden party at Buckingham Palace. When the Sovereign goes in procession to Westminster for

180-473: The Iranian government . In January 2008, Conway announced that he would stand down at the next general election after a Commons standards committee found that he had employed his son Freddie, a full-time student at Newcastle University , as a political researcher using public funds, despite there being no record of his son doing any work at Westminster. As a result, Conservative Party leader David Cameron withdrew

210-502: The Iranian government . In Jeremy Paxman 's book The Political Animal (2002) Conway is quoted as saying "I miss the pressures. I love living on the edge". Conway has been married to Colette Elizabeth Mary Lamb since 1980 and they have two sons and a daughter. Conway was commissioned into the 6th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers ( Territorial Army ) in 1977. He was promoted lieutenant in 1979 and captain in 1981. In 1982 he transferred to 5th Battalion, The Light Infantry . He

240-639: The Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead council. In 1977, he was also elected to the Tyne and Wear County Council, and was the Conservative group leader from 1979 until 1982. He stepped down from the county council in 1983, when he was elected to Westminster . At Gateshead he was the Deputy Conservative Group Leader for some years and remained a councillor there until 1987, whilst simultaneously

270-676: The Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Minister of State at the Wales Office , Wyn Roberts , serving until 1991. Following the 1992 general election Conway became the PPS to Michael Forsyth , Minister of State at the Department for Employment . In 1993 Conway was promoted by John Major to serve as an Assistant Government Whip , the next year becoming a Lord Commissioner to

300-610: The State Opening of Parliament , the Vice-Chamberlain stays and is "held captive" at Buckingham Palace . This custom began with the Stuart Restoration (1660), because of the previous parliament's role in the beheading of Charles I . During their captivity the Vice-Chamberlain is offered a choice of champagne or sherry to drink by the Lord Chamberlain as they watch the State Opening of Parliament on television. During

330-795: The United Kingdom . The officeholder is usually a senior government whip in the British House of Commons ranking third or fourth after the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip. The Vice-Chamberlain is the Deputy to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household and, like the Lord Chamberlain, carries a white staff of office when on duty on state occasions. The Vice-Chamberlain's main roles are to compile

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360-738: The Volunteer Officer's Decoration when the Territorial Force was formed on 1 April 1908, following the enactment of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 , (7 Edw.7, c.9) which was a large reorganisation of the old Volunteer Army and the remaining units of militia and Yeomanry . However, the Militia were transferred to the Special Reserve rather than becoming part of the Territorial Force . Recipients of this award are entitled to use

390-532: The whip from Conway, effectively expelling him from the Parliamentary Conservative group. He received considerable criticism from the press concerning the misuse of funds. Conway was born in Gateshead and was educated at Beacon Hill Comprehensive School in the town, Gateshead Technical College, and Newcastle upon Tyne Polytechnic . In 1974, at the age of 21, Conway was elected as a councillor of

420-566: The 2005 general election as a UKIP candidate. After an investigation, in January 2008 the Committee found there was "no record" of what work Freddie had done, and said the £1,000-plus a month he was paid was too high. They recommended that the House order him to repay a sum of £13,000 and that he be suspended for 10 sitting days. However, in a subsequent interview with the Mail on Sunday , Derek Conway disputed

450-672: The Treasury , or 'full whip'. He was again promoted within the Whips' Office when he became the Vice Chamberlain of HM Household in 1996. Conway held the Shrewsbury and Atcham seat until he was defeated at the 1997 general election , when the Conservative Party nationally lost more than half of the seats it had held before the election. He was beaten by Labour's Paul Marsden , whose majority

480-523: The allegation that Freddie Conway had rarely travelled from Newcastle to Westminster, instead stating that Freddie "would go up and down like a fiddler's elbow". In light of the evidence, Conservative party leader David Cameron decided to withdraw the Conservative Party Whip, rendering Conway free of any Parliamentary Conservative constraints, effectively leaving him as an independent MP. Conway announced on 30 January 2008 that he would not fight

510-549: The former Prime Minister and Father of the House of Commons , Edward Heath . Conway defended Heath against accusations of homosexual behaviour. He retained the seat with a majority of 3,345 in 2005 . From his re-election he was a member of the Defence Select Committee. He is a Eurosceptic (even voting against the Single European Act that had the backing of Margaret Thatcher 's government), and supports

540-522: The latter part of her reign, the Vice-Chamberlain sent a daily email to Elizabeth II . The Queen was regarded as well informed about British political affairs as she typically read daily newspapers and was a listener of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 . The late queen's private secretary told Andrew MacKay , who held the post in 1996, to include more "gossip and the inside track" as his initial efforts had been "rather stilted". MacKay turned his efforts into

570-512: The letters "TD" after their name (post-nominal). The original criterion was for a minimum of 20 years service (subsequently reduced to 12 years service) in the Territorial Force and Territorial Army, with war service counting double and service in the ranks counting half. In 1930 the new Efficiency Decoration or ‘ED’ was introduced to be awarded to all three services. When the ED was awarded to

600-477: The next general election, stating: "I have concluded that it's now time to step down." He declared that he did not wish his "personal circumstances to be a distraction" from David Cameron 's leadership. The ruling did not involve the elder son, Henry Conway , as he was not the subject of the original complaint, but John Lyon , who had recently taken on the post of Parliamentary commissioner for standards , received complaints about similar payments to Henry while he

630-785: The ranks was the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal (1908–1921), the Territorial Efficiency Medal (1921–1930), and the Efficiency Medal (1930–1999). J M A Tamplin, The Territorial Decoration, 1908-1930 , (1983), (Spink: London) Vice-Chamberlain of the Household The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household is a member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of

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660-596: The return of capital punishment . Conway employed his son Freddie as a part-time researcher, while Freddie was on a full-time degree course at the University of Newcastle . Conway paid his son the part-time equivalent of a £25,970 salary, amounting to a sum in excess of £40,000 over three years, including pension contributions. Conway was reported to the Committee on Standards and Privileges by former Metropolitan Police Inspector Michael Barnbrook, who had stood against him in

690-677: The ribbon differed, being a half blue, half scarlet ribbon, with yellow edges. This distinction was bestowed by King Edward VII for the Volunteer Long Service And Good Conduct Medal and the honour extended to the same medals under the Territorial designations. The HAC ribbon colours were the household colours of King Edward VII . Note that this medal is separate from the Territorial Force Imperial Service Badge . The equivalent award for

720-604: The row over money paid to peers . In May 2009 as part of its Disclosure of expenses of British Members of Parliament , the Sunday Telegraph revealed that Conway had claimed the Second Home Allowance on a house in Northumberland 330 miles from his constituency. Conway is currently a presenter of Epilogue , a book review programme on Press TV , an English-language international television news channel funded by

750-399: Was 1,670. In his book titled The Political Animal , Jeremy Paxman recounts Conway's reflections on his defeat: "'Had it not been for James Goldsmith 's intervention I'd have won. He died of pancreatic cancer ,' he [Conway] says, and then adds in the most chilling tone, 'I hear it's the most painful of deaths. I'm so pleased.'", although the number of votes by Goldsmith's Referendum Party

780-408: Was also a student and doing the "job" which Freddie took over. Lyon decided a complaint from Duncan Borrowman merited investigation. On 29 January 2009, almost a year after the previous report, a further report was published by the House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee into the employment of Mr Conway's elder son Henry. There was some evidence of Henry working for his salary, but his father

810-537: Was first elected to parliament for Shrewsbury and Atcham at the 1983 general election , following the retirement of the long serving Conservative member for Shrewsbury, John Langford-Holt , securing a majority of 8,624. In 1985, Conway became a member of the Agriculture Select committee , and after the 1987 general election he joined the Transport Select Committee . In 1988 he was appointed as

840-402: Was ordered to pay back £3,758 which had been overpaid and to write a letter of apology to the chairman of the committee. On 2 February 2009, Conway apologised in the House of Commons. Conway told the Commons he accepted "without any reservation" that he had breached the rules of the House. He withdrew comments made previously in which he accused Labour of using his story to deflect attention from

870-744: Was promoted major in 1987, was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1990 and transferred to the Reserve in 1994. He has also been an executive for Granada Television , a Sunday school teacher and a charity organiser for the National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases (1974–1983) and the Cats Protection League (chief executive from 1998 to 2003). He is a Freeman of the City of London . Territorial Decoration This award superseded

900-499: Was underneath Labour's majority in 1997, meaning Conway would have still lost the seat by several hundred votes if there had been no candidate from the party. After his defeat Conway became the chief executive at the Cats Protection charity in 1998. Conway was out of the Commons until the general election, 2001 when he was elected as the member of parliament for the south London seat of Old Bexley and Sidcup, previously held by

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