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'''Sir William Michael John Grylls''', known as '''Michael Grylls''', (21 February 1934 – 7 February 2001) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] politician. |
'''Sir William Michael John Grylls''', known as '''Michael Grylls''', (21 February 1934 – 7 February 2001) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] politician. He was implicated in the [[Cash-for-questions affair]], a poitical scandal of the 1990s. He is the father of adventurer [[Bear Grylls]]. |
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==Early life== |
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Grylls was educated at [[Stratford Upon Avon High School]], [[Hawkhurst]], the [[Royal Naval College, Dartmouth]], and at the Universities of [[University of Paris|Paris]] and [[University of Madrid|Madrid]]. From 1952 - 1955 he served with the [[Royal Marines]], after which he became a wine and tobacco importer. He served as a councillor on [[Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras|St. Pancras Borough Council]] and was elected to the [[Greater London Council]] for the [[Cities of London and Westminster]] 1967-70. |
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==Family== |
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Grylls married Sally Ford, the daughter of [[Patricia Ford (politician)|Patricia Ford, Lady Fisher]]), an [[Ulster Unionist]] MP, the stepdaughter of Conservative MP [[Nigel Fisher]], and the stepsister of Labour MP [[Mark Fisher]]. The Grylls had one daughter and one son, the adventurer [[Bear Grylls|Edward Michael "Bear" Grylls]], who is most recognised as the host of ''[[Born Survivor]]'' (''[[Man vs. Wild]]'' in the U.S.). |
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==Career as Member of Parliament== |
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Grylls was an unsuccessful candidate in the [[Fulham (UK Parliament constituency)|Fulham constituency]] in both [[United Kingdom general election, 1964|1964]] and [[United Kingdom general election, 1966|1966]]. At the [[United Kingdom general election, 1970|1970 |
Grylls was an unsuccessful candidate in the [[Fulham (UK Parliament constituency)|Fulham constituency]] in both the [[United Kingdom general election, 1964|1964]] and [[United Kingdom general election, 1966|1966 general elections]]. At the [[United Kingdom general election, 1970|1970 one]], he was returned to the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] as [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Chertsey (UK Parliament constituency)|Chertsey]]. His seat was abolished in boundary changes, but he was returned to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] for the new [[North West Surrey (UK Parliament constituency)|North West Surrey constituency]] in the [[United Kingdom general election, February 1974|February 1974]] [[general election]]. He represented this [[constituency]] until his retirement at the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 election]]. |
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He was knighted in 1992. |
He was knighted in 1992. |
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==Cash for questions== |
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For some years he had acted as a consultant to the lobbying company run by [[Ian Greer]] at the heart of the inquiry |
For some years he had acted as a consultant to the lobbying company run by [[Ian Greer]] at the heart of the inquiry. The [[Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards]], Sir [[Gordon Downey]], stated that Grylls had "seriously misled" the [[Select Committee (Westminster System)|select committee]] on members' interests in 1990 by understating the number of payments he had received for introducing clients to ministers<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/news/07/0704/downey.shtml ''"Sir Michael "persistently failed" to declare his interest ..."''], BBC, 1997</ref> and Grylls's conduct, said Sir Gordon, had fallen "below the standards the House is entitled to expect of its members".<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-sleaze-report-five-men-who-fell-below-the-standards-that-parliament-demands-from-an-mp-1248834.html "The sleaze report: Five men who fell below the standards that Parliament demands from an MP "], The Independent, 4 July 1997</ref><ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/politicsobituaries/story/0,,563430,00.html Michael Grylls obituary], The Guardian</ref><ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmstnprv/240vii/sp0703.htm ''"...Sir Michael Grylls fell seriously below the standards the House"''], Select Committee on Standards and Privileges, www.parliament.uk</ref> |
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==Other== |
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Grylls was a member of the [[Royal Yacht Squadron]] until his death in 2001; his widow remains an honorary member. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:50, 27 November 2011
Sir William Michael John Grylls, known as Michael Grylls, (21 February 1934 – 7 February 2001) was a British Conservative politician. He was implicated in the Cash-for-questions affair, a poitical scandal of the 1990s. He is the father of adventurer Bear Grylls.
Early life
Grylls was educated at Stratford Upon Avon High School, Hawkhurst, the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, and at the Universities of Paris and Madrid. From 1952 - 1955 he served with the Royal Marines, after which he became a wine and tobacco importer. He served as a councillor on St. Pancras Borough Council and was elected to the Greater London Council for the Cities of London and Westminster 1967-70.
Family
Grylls married Sally Ford, the daughter of Patricia Ford, Lady Fisher), an Ulster Unionist MP, the stepdaughter of Conservative MP Nigel Fisher, and the stepsister of Labour MP Mark Fisher. The Grylls had one daughter and one son, the adventurer Edward Michael "Bear" Grylls, who is most recognised as the host of Born Survivor (Man vs. Wild in the U.S.).
Career as Member of Parliament
Grylls was an unsuccessful candidate in the Fulham constituency in both the 1964 and 1966 general elections. At the 1970 one, he was returned to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Chertsey. His seat was abolished in boundary changes, but he was returned to Parliament for the new North West Surrey constituency in the February 1974 general election. He represented this constituency until his retirement at the 1997 election.
He was knighted in 1992.
Cash for questions
For some years he had acted as a consultant to the lobbying company run by Ian Greer at the heart of the inquiry. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Sir Gordon Downey, stated that Grylls had "seriously misled" the select committee on members' interests in 1990 by understating the number of payments he had received for introducing clients to ministers[1] and Grylls's conduct, said Sir Gordon, had fallen "below the standards the House is entitled to expect of its members".[2][3][4]
Other
Grylls was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron until his death in 2001; his widow remains an honorary member.
References
- ^ "Sir Michael "persistently failed" to declare his interest ...", BBC, 1997
- ^ "The sleaze report: Five men who fell below the standards that Parliament demands from an MP ", The Independent, 4 July 1997
- ^ Michael Grylls obituary, The Guardian
- ^ "...Sir Michael Grylls fell seriously below the standards the House", Select Committee on Standards and Privileges, www.parliament.uk
Sources
- Times Guide to the House of Commons, Times Newspapers Limited, 1992 edition.
- 1934 births
- 2001 deaths
- Britannia Royal Naval College graduates
- University of Paris alumni
- Royal Marines officers
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for English constituencies
- Councillors in Greater London
- Members of the Greater London Council
- UK MPs 1970–1974
- UK MPs 1974
- UK MPs 1974–1979
- UK MPs 1979–1983
- UK MPs 1983–1987
- UK MPs 1987–1992
- UK MPs 1992–1997
- Knights Bachelor