Hugh Linstead

Sir Hugh Nicholas Linstead OBE (3 February 1901 – 27 May 1987) was a British pharmaceutical chemist and barrister who served as Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Putney for 22 years. Linstead had significant business interests in the pharmaceutical industry. His politics were on the moderate side of the Conservative Party and he was a strong supporter of the National Health Service.

Family and training

Linstead was educated at the City of London School, and then obtained the Jacob Bell Scholarship to the Pharmaceutical Society's School. He worked as a pharmaceutical chemist, and in 1926 was appointed Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society. In the late 1920s he also trained in law at Birkbeck College, and he was Called to the Bar in 1929 by the Middle Temple. Linstead married Alice Freke in 1928; the couple had two daughters.

Pharmaceutical industry

His position in the Pharmaceutical Society brought him membership of the Home Office Poisons Board. Linstead was a strong defender of the integrity of all those involved in pharmacy. He complained in 1936 that the law did not allow any action to be taken against the author of an article attacking the profession as a whole."An Article on Pharmacy" (Letter), ''The Times'', 24 September 1936. In 1937, Linstead was awarded the OBE for services to the industry. In 1938 when the Central Pharmaceutical War Committee was set up, Linstead became its Secretary. He was also involved in the Scouting movement, being Commissioner for Training Scout Officers for the Boy Scouts' Association from 1932.

By-election candidate

In March 1942 Linstead supported the Guild system in pharmaceutical retailing, arguing that after the end of the war, "state control, cartels, and individual effort will all be needed"."Back to the Guilds?", ''The Times'', 10 March 1942. The next month he was chosen as Conservative Party candidate for Putney after the death of Marcus Samuel. He faced opposition from Captain Bernard Acworth RN (retd.) who stood as an Independent; due to the electoral truce the Labour Party gave their support to Linstead.

Controversy was caused in the by-election when Winston Churchill, in his letter of support to Linstead, accused Acworth of supporting a negotiated peace with Japan."Mr. Churchill's Call To Putney", ''The Times'', 6 May 1942. Acworth insisted this was untrue. Linstead asked that Acworth publish the letter he sent to members of parliament to clear the matter up."Putney Electors Stirred", ''The Times'', 7 May 1942. The controversy raged until polling day, when Linstead won comfortably with 8,788 votes to Acworth's 2,939."Putney Election Result", ''The Times'', 11 May 1942.

Beveridge report

Linstead proved a moderate MP. He joined the Tory Reform Committee and in October 1944 welcomed the report of the Beveridge Committee on social insurance."Tory Reformers' Views", ''The Times'', 9 October 1944. He was particularly supportive of moves to create a national health service; he cautioned that the administration must be kept efficient."Comprehensive Medical Service", ''The Times'', 12 January 1945. At the 1945 general election, Linstead faced a five-cornered fight against not only Labour and Liberal candidates but also Sir Richard Acland, the leader of Common Wealth and Mrs. E. Tennant, a former Conservative candidate now standing as an Independent. Linstead won a majority of 3,887."The Times House of Commons 1945", p. 40.

The post-war Labour government set up a Joint Negotiating Committee for Hospital Staffs in preparation for the National Health Service in 1946, and Linstead was appointed as chairman. At the time of the dispute between Health minister Aneurin Bevan and representatives of doctors, Linstead called for arbitration between the two, which was involved in all other professions who were to become part of the new service."Mr. Bevan and the Doctors", ''The Times'', 18 February 1948. When the NHS started in 1948 he became chairman of the Wandsworth Group Hospital Committee.

1950 election

At the 1950 general election, Linstead's constituency underwent boundary changes, bringing into the constituency 12,000 voters from a Labour-held ward formerly in Wandsworth Central."Party Prospects in Wandsworth", ''The Times'', 13 February 1950. Despite this change, Linstead was re-elected with an increase in his majority to 5,692."The Times House of Commons 1950", p. 78. In 1951 he was appointed by the Ministry of Health to the Central Health Services Council.

NHS organisation

Linstead received a knighthood in the Coronation Honours' List of 1953."The Coronation Honours", ''The Times'', 1 June 1953. At the 1953 Conservative Party conference, he submitted a paper on "Health and Hospitals" which advocated greater financial freedom for hospital committees including the ability to roll savings over between financial years, and also supported bringing general practitioners within the hospital system."Conservatives' Faith in Local Authorities", ''The Times'', 8 October 1953. Linstead served as President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation from 1953.

In November 1953, Linstead was inadvertently the cause of some political difficulties to the Conservative government. He moved a motion to annul an Order in Council which lifted an embargo on cut glass imports, arguing that to do so would damage the domestic industry. After debate he intended to withdraw the motion, but the Labour opposition (which wanted to continue the embargo) objected and put the motion to the vote; with the Conservative whips not expecting a division, they lost by four votes."Parliament", ''The Times'', 12 November 1953. This was the first vote which the government had lost."Government's First Defeat", ''The Times'', 12 November 1953.

Criticism of medical profession

The Home Secretary named Linstead to the Wolfenden Committee investigation prostitution and homosexuality in 1954;"Inquiry into Laws on Homosexuality", ''The Times'', 27 August 1954. Linstead endorsed the conclusions of the report that male homosexuality be decriminalised, and criticised the government for not bringing in legislation."'Conspiracy of Silence' Over Wolfenden Report", ''The Times'', 4 September 1958. He kept up his interest in the pharmaceutical industry in Parliament, complaining in February 1955 that the public too often believed "magic .. was attached to a bottle of medicine" and that prescriptions were frequently "no more than a palliative given to the patient to satisfy him in a rather vague psychological way"."Parliament", ''The Times'', 17 February 1955. After the 1955 general election, Linstead served two years as Chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. He was also chairman of the Franco-British Parliamentary Committee from 1955 to 1960.

Inquiries and scrutiny

In October 1955, Linstead protested that large Communist-inspired delegations urging members of parliament to co-operate more closely with the Soviet Union crowded out "people of good will, anxious to do anything they could to promote international understanding"."Keeping The Peace", ''The Times'', 19 October 1955. In January 1956, he was named as the Parliamentary Charity Commissioner for England and Wales, an appointment in the government's control."Treasury Post Filled", ''The Times'', 25 January 1956.

He defended the BBC
...