FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ELECTION OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR OLD BEXLEY AND SIDCUP

Early day motion 449, tabled 29 February 2000 by Lord Hague of Richmond (Conservative). Signed by 345 members.

That this House notes that the Right honourable Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup, then known as Lieutenant Colonel Edward Richard George Heath, MBE, took his seat on 2nd March 1950 and that he has represented essentially the same constituency since that date, so completing fifty years of unbroken service to his constituents, to his party, to Parliament and to the country; congratulates him on this rare distinction; and expresses its gratitude to him for the contribution he has made over those fifty years to the life of the House of Commons in so many ministerial roles, as Prime Minister and, since 1992, as Father of the House.

Signatures by party: Conservative 153, Labour 128, Liberal Democrat 41, Labour/Co-operative 10, UUP 4, Scottish National Party 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1, Independent Labour 1, Plaid Cymru 1.