Those who read my recent political blogs will likely detect a note of often scathing wariness when it comes to applauding the merits of the MPs who sit in the Westminster Parliament when addressing issues that I care about, although I suspect many MPs, including my own, do a good deal of good for their constituents. Despite my disappointment when it comes to MPs failing to deliver on what truly matters, over the years there have been those I have admired, regardless of political affiliation and even when far from being in full agreement. All have been their own men and men of integrity and principle. I present my top six, with reasons why I rate them highly.

Teddy Taylor

I begin with my own MP for over twenty years, who comes under the category to which a number belong (so I have found) who voted for Teddy even if they didn’t vote Conservative. I recall once writing to the then Prime Minister, John Major, informing him I could not support his government, giving one (of several) reasons that he had recently expelled Teddy Taylor from the party – a culmination of a lifetime of euro-scepticism. I copied Teddy in, who wrote back saying that he agreed. Two things particularly endeared me to Sir Teddy besides his unashamed Christian world view and those concerning UK’s participation in Europe, were that he was an outstanding constituency MP (I communicated with him on several occasions and always got meaningful responses) and that he was a man of principle even if it cost him personally. One personal highlight was receiving a community award presented by Teddy.

David Amess

What Sir Teddy was to the East of the town (Southend), now city, Sir David was to the West – its elected representative in the Palace of Westminster, a job he undertook with the same relish and commitment as Sir Teddy. I first come across Sir David around the turn of the millennium when I was helping to set up a mental health charity. He proved to be a great ally, as he was to many of the town’s good causes, helped in that one of his political interests was health. I was to bump into David several times after that right up to near the time of his shocking death. Our interactions were invariably meaningful and came accompanied by his refreshing, self-effacing, sense of humour. I recall when leading a time when some gave their own tribute to his outstanding legacy, most began along the lines: “I didn’t agree with his politics but he was a jolly good chap”. Funnily enough, I did agree with his politics, e.g. pro-life, pro-marriage, religious freedom. Like Sir Teddy, he is a much missed free spirit.

Tony Benn

I often find when I comment on social media on issues of the day that I surprise some of my detractors by stating that I particularly admired Tony Benn despite him being seen to be on the Left of the Labour Party and a member of the Fabian Society that I take serious issue with. With Tony, I got the distinct impression that he was in politics for all the right reasons. While one can disagree with his position on several issues (and I did/do), it would be difficult to argue that these were not well thought out and were based on his deeply held moral principles, which better than most he ably articulated, often being prepared to go out on a limb when doing so. I love the way he would respectfully engage with his detractors, such as Enoch Powell, often seen to be at the opposite end of the political spectrum.  I can’t resist ending by reflecting on Tony’s choice of two books if cast alone on a desert island. The Bible and Das Kapital no doubt reflected, respectively, his religious and political inspirations.     

Enoch Powell

I suspect there will be some who might go along with my other choices but not this one as he is seen in the eyes of some as racist or, to use today’s language, far right. According to Wikipedia: “Before entering politics Powell was a classical scholar and a brigadier, having served in the British Army during the Second World War. He wrote both poetry and books on classical and political subjects. He is remembered particularly for his views on immigration and demographic change. In 1968 Powell attracted attention nationwide for his “Rivers of Blood” speech, in which he criticised immigration to Britain, especially the rapid influx from the Commonwealth of Nations”. Enoch is an example of something becoming increasingly rare of someone who has done useful things before entering politics. Checking Wikipedia’s extensive and fair account, it seems he was anything but racist and was merely prophesying something we are now seeing being played out. He was undoubtedly an incredible intellect who could ably argue his case yet respect those who saw things differently, e.g. Michael Foot. He was also prepared to stick by his principles and could have held the highest office. I thought I would end with his choice of books if cast alone on his desert island. He too was happy with the Bible but it was a Hebrew Old Testament and a Greek New Testament.

Frank Field

I was reminded why I admired Frank Field when a friend on a different wavelength to me politically posted his own tribute to Frank (see here), making several excellent points that I happened to agree with. He began with an apt quote: “Frank held that there were things sacred in this world that were worth defending from the frenzied march of the market and the worship of money alone.” I first came across him when he was given the task under the new Blair administration of thinking the unthinkable when it came to welfare reform. While he didn’t crack the likely impossible issue of ensuring the right people got the right benefit, his track record when it came to supporting the less well off made him an ideal candidate. I recall mentioning him to another of my MP heroes (David Amess), who spoke of him in glowing terms. I agree with my friend: “In an age of polarised contempt we need more Frank Fields. We need to listen less to those who win applause in either right or left-wing echo chambers, and more to those willing to hold tensions, be brave and steer a faithful course to love both God and neighbour”, as no doubt did Maggie Thatcher, who also highly esteemed him.

Andrew Bridgen

Sadly, Wikipedia’s article on Andrew Bridgen, unlike that on Enoch Powell, read like a hit piece. If I didn’t know better it might had led me to abandon including him in my “six”. My big gripe concerning modern day British politics is that politicians fail to address the issues that truly matter, not helped by a paradigm, partly allowed by our elected representatives, of handing over power to those who are not accountable to the electorate. Andrew is a rare exception. He was brought to my attention during the Covid plandemic, when questioning the efficacy of “the Jab”, but sadly he never received the support he needed and deserved. Indeed, he was thrown out of the Conservative Party for expressing his views. And other issues too – for challenging the government who went after post office owners when it was their cock up. More recently, he addressed the issue of grooming gangs and child trafficking, issues that Westminster should be pressing. Sadly, after being kicked out of the Conservative Party, he wasn’t voted back as an MP, when standing as an Independent, and few have taken on his mantle, yet he still pertinently champions many of those issues that matter.