n 1964 the electorate of dismal levels of support that was common as the Conservative candidate and give South East faced the unusual in coalfield, or ‘Valleys’, constituencies, the impression that he was perhaps I situation of having the although the general Welsh suspicion encouraged to do so by those at the top as its Conservative about Conservatism was undoubtedly of the Association in favour of a ‘big parliamentary candidate. Edward present in parts of Cardiff as well.3 name’ alternative. Reconstructing events R. Dexter, better known as Ted, may Nonetheless, at the 1959 general election, is made more difficult by the fact that no have failed to defeat Labour’s incumbent in a straight fight with the Conservative meeting of the constituency executive , but the result was far Party, Callaghan was re-elected to committee was held for eight months from the foregone conclusion as which Parliament with a majority of only 868 encompassing the time that Roberts it has sometimes subsequently been in a contest that saw on the Conservative resigned.8 The sense that the Chairman dismissed. The constituency was then side ‘more work, more helpers, more of the Association, G.V. Wynne-Jones, thought of as ‘super marginal’.1 His failure keenness and more enthusiasm … than was scheming behind closed doors is only has thus meant that, in hindsight, Dexter ever before’.4 Callaghan’s Conservative reinforced by his rather limp excuse – in was considered by many to have been a opponent on that occasion was a locally response to complaints about the lack of disastrous parliamentary candidate. Yet popular schoolteacher called Michael dialogue within the Association – that it is still an intriguing episode and the Roberts, and a ‘first class [parliamentary] no meetings had been held during these circumstances surrounding his selection, candidate’ according to the Central Office months because of inclement weather.9 and the nature of his campaign, also Agent for Wales at the time.5 Michael Roberts’s own words only fuel illuminate key features of local political Cardiff South East Conservative this suspicion. Twice, in the Association’s associations, as well as the patchy, Association was so delighted with having Executive Committee meeting, and at inconsistent, and sometimes incoherent come very close to unseating a Labour its AGM, he told those present: ‘you are organization that was the Conservative Party heavyweight that its members not finished with me yet’.10 His successful Party in Wales during this period. very quickly approached Roberts to career later in Parliament as the MP for Cardiff South East, which existed become the prospective candidate again.6 Cardiff North and Cardiff North West between 1950 and 1983, was a diverse They were so adamant that he was the (he died at the dispatch box in the House constituency conducive to a good man to carry out this vital coup for the of Commons) suggests he had always electoral fight. It had many features of Conservative Party that they made him had serious parliamentary ambitions.11 a Labour Party marginal, including a promise not to fight a by-election between Roberts was made headmaster of the new once enormous but still active docks, his adoption as a candidate and the next Bishop of Llandaff School in 1963, but as well as areas of heavy industry, but general election.7 it is unclear whether this appointment also a substantial middle class, residing The records that have survived was made before or after he resigned as a particularly in the leafy suburbs of Roath, regarding what happened next are vague candidate. He also remained very active in and the ‘genteel villadom’ of Penarth.2 in the way that committee minute books the local Association, regularly speaking Here, the Conservative Party did not tend to be as an historical source. They do, in support of the new parliamentary suffer the same chronic failures and however, confirm that Roberts resigned candidate, which perhaps suggests he had

The Curious Case of Ted Dexter and Cardiff South East

Sam Blaxland

8 Conservative History Journal  Vol. II, Issue 4  Autumn 2015 The Curious Case of Ted Dexter and Cardiff South East made the decision to step down himself. On the day he was adopted as a candidate, Cardiff Regardless of the circumstances leading up to it, the summer of 1963 was spent Conservatism witnessed unprecedented scenes. searching for a new person to become the prospective Conservative candidate was considered a big hitter in more ways unmitigated disaster and every stereotype in Cardiff South East. Several local men than just in a cricketing context. He was about the elitist and out of touch ‘English’ who were on Central Office’s approved list ‘dashing’, and had a glamorous wife who Tory was fulfilled. Dexter regularly had were interviewed, but at the last moment was a model.22 Indeed, at his selection greater ‘colossal’ political and sporting Wynne-Jones announced that it would committee, one of the first reassurances commitments away from Cardiff.28 The be necessary to ‘supplement’ this list.12 members of the panel sought from tour to the West Indies was one such It was at this stage that Dexter appeared Dexter was that his wife would be able example of many. When he was in the on the scene. It was certainly not unique to campaign in the constituency.23 On city he made front page headlines for for an elite amateur sportsman later the day he was adopted as a candidate, receiving a fine for parking illegally to be elected as a Conservative MP but Cardiff Conservatism witnessed outside the Conservatives’ own offices.29 this was probably a then unique case of unprecedented scenes as a press scrum In scenes that read like a P.G. Wodehouse someone at the pinnacle of their sporting formed outside the meeting hall.24 The farce, Dexter continually misunderstood career suddenly turning to politics and Association revelled in this ‘blaze of the nature of a political campaign in attempting to take advantage of their publicity’.25 The campaign that followed this part of the world, apparently telling sporting celebrity.13 Yet there is nothing to suggest that Ted Dexter was actively seeking a career in politics. In his autobiography he describes how the ‘Gentlemen from Cardiff’ actively approached him.14 He was automatically placed on the shortlist of candidates to interview.15 At the selection meetings other potential candidates spoke in depth about issues like Clause Four and the Common Market. Dexter, in contrast, told the meeting that they should be ‘rightly suspicious’ of him, and that his greatest attribute was that he was a ‘leader’ who had ‘always been interested in politics’.16 He had to admit that he had never been a ‘physical member’ of the party.17 Later in life, Dexter added that he actually knew ‘more about Italian politics than English’ – a comment which, as he was standing in a Welsh constituency, speaks volumes.18 Despite this, the Association duly voted for him as their chosen candidate, as they were almost certainly always going to do. Indeed, the minutes of the AGM that followed this meeting describe so many people wanting to second Dexter’s The ‘dashing’ Ted Dexter captained England between 1962 and 1965 (Hulton Deutsch) nomination that ‘it was impossible to count their names’.19 The Times reported the move as a ‘stunt’, was deeply centred on Dexter. Supporters steelworkers and dockers in Cardiff wryly noting that Dexter ‘can hardly have were reminded to display photos of the that Eton would be an excellent choice been picked for his political brilliance’.20 England captain prominently in their of school for their children.30 The press The rationale behind selecting Dexter over windows for maximum effect.26 When widely reported (to Dexter’s apparent a more knowledgeable local candidate Dexter asked permission to lead a charity surprise) his comments that ‘our rich and was clearly that a tight contest needed the cricket tour to the West Indies in January powerful boys’ should receive ‘special publicity that someone like Dexter could 1964, Mr T. O’Neil from the Association educational treatment’.31 The Labour generate. G.V. Wynne-Jones, who was the responded that he need not have asked, peer and historian Kenneth Morgan, who brains behind this decision, and who had and that such a venture would be was a reporter based in Cardiff at the played rugby for Wales, clearly though ‘terrific publicity value for [Dexter’s] time, remembers Dexter telling the press that a sportsman was an ideal choice candidature nationwide’.27 that he knew which houses would vote to generate this attention.21 But Dexter Yet the campaign turned into an Labour because they had ‘dirty curtains

Conservative History Journal  Vol. II, Issue 4  Autumn 2015 9 in the windows and unwashed milk Ted Dexter was an early had indeed been noblemen and squires bottles on the doorstep’.32 The Western of whom the Welsh population was often Mail observed that Dexter often spoke at example of celebrity deeply suspicious.45 meetings to silence, or to heckles.33 Fellow politics. In trying to counter this, Central Office English club cricket players descended had sent a young (Welsh speaking) Enoch on Cardiff to campaign for Dexter.34 The Powell to Wales in 1947–8 with this task Association commissioned posters that of working out how a Conservative vote were equally Edwardian in their tone and could be encouraged there.46 His detailed content which told voters: recommendations arising from reports on ‘rural’ and ‘industrial’ conditions Don’t be dim and vote for suggested treating Wales separately and Jim – Use your head and vote carefully.47 Powell also urged the creation for Ted.35 of a Minister for Welsh Affairs, which, in a hugely symbolic move, the party pledged On election night 1964, Callaghan’s and then introduced when it returned to small majority rocketed to 7,841.36 office in 1951.48 Similarly, in 1959, a Bow In the first meeting of the Conservative Group pamphlet called Work for Wales Association’s executive committee after authored by Geoffrey Howe and Tom the election, feelings were expressed in Hooson called for the distinctiveness and Dexter after scoring 180 against on no uncertain terms. In ‘serious criticism unique features of Wales to be recognized the last day of the first Test at Edgbaston, 1961 of the candidate’, members commented in both party policy and presentation.49 that, having campaigned with Dexter, they Throughout this period, Central Office sensed that he ‘did not care about politics’.37 about this affair is that, taken as an and local Associations alike were calling At the same meeting, G.V. Wynne-Jones isolated – but high-profile – incident, it is for local candidates who could put the announced that he would stand down as an unduly unfair way to judge the nature Conservative case across most effectively Chairman of the Association after fifteen and the performance of the Conservative to the people.50 There is no clear evidence years’ service, adding weight to the sense Party in Wales at this moment in history. that this was a huge success. The share that the Dexter scenario had been cooked As the amateur captain of England, of the vote received by the Conservative up by the Association’s top brass who Dexter had ‘something of the old style Party in Wales remained constantly were now accepting the responsibility for Corinthian’ about him.42 The selection, at around 30 per cent throughout the doing so.38 therefore, of this quintessentially English decades after the Second World War.51 Over fifty years later, the incident is Englishman – widely known as ‘Lord What is crucial, however, is that the party still one that Ted Dexter does not recall Ted’ – who by his own admission knew tried to adapt itself. The Dexter fiasco flew ‘with much pride or pleasure’.39 Kenneth nothing about Welsh or local issues43 in the face of this strategy in almost every Morgan interviewed him immediately was a particularly foolish move because single way. after the count in 1964 and remembers it ran so contrary to a deliberate policy The Conservative Party, at full strength him shaking and nearly in tears, claiming the Conservatives had been following for and with a perfect candidate, would ‘it was all my fault’.40 The blame should some time, with the aim of trying to make probably not have won Cardiff South hardly be laid at his door, however, but at the party seem precisely less ‘English’, East. The 1964 election saw a significant the door of the clique of party members less ‘alien’, less ‘foreign’ and less elitist.44 swing towards Labour in Wales (reflecting in Cardiff who should have understood Although only a jocular nickname, ‘Lord’ the trend throughout the UK), and their constituency better. The strangest Ted was standing for Parliament in a Callaghan was indeed a serious political revelation is that the local Association country whose past Tory representatives heavyweight by this juncture in time. The apparently brought Dexter in because, eminent sports historian Derek Birley is as a cricketer, they thought he would wrong, however, to suggest that no one appeal to the (very small) West Indian should have been concerned that Dexter vote in this dockside constituency.41 They could have been returned to Parliament.52 should also be the target of criticism in It is also disingenuous, or perhaps naïve, light of the odd and undemocratic way of Dexter to describe the threat he posed that political associations can choose as ‘negligible’.53 Cardiff South East had parliamentary candidates. The process indeed become marginal in 1959, and and formalities associated with selecting reports produced by the Conservative Dexter were a façade. The Chairman Party in the run-up to the election had already decided Dexter was his suggested that the party would win the man, probably riding roughshod over seat by 500 votes on account of there democratic spirit in the Association, and being higher levels of private property better quality candidates. Ted Dexter was and car ownership than in 1959.54 The an early example of celebrity politics. ‘Lord Ted’ struggled to connect with the voters neighbouring constituency of Barry, What is also particularly frustrating of Cardiff (Henri Cartier-Bresson, NPG) with a diligent and locally popular MP

10 Conservative History Journal  Vol. II, Issue 4  Autumn 2015 The Curious Case of Ted Dexter and Cardiff South East

in Raymond Gower,55 had weathered the genuine sea change in the fortunes of a Sam Blaxland researches modern swing to Labour and held onto the seat for party which had historically struggled British political history for his Ph.D. the Conservatives.56 to find a raison d’être in Wales.57 The at Swansea University. He would It is at least possible to contemplate the foolish mistake of choosing ‘the most like to thank Dr. Martin Johnes for notion that Michael Roberts’s personal inappropriate candidate imaginable’ his comments on this article, as well momentum may have caused an upset proved disastrous.58 Cardiff South East as Jonathan Evans – at the time of in 1964 had he contested that election. lost its funding from Central Office research, the outgoing MP for Cardiff Although counterfactual history is a for being a marginal seat as a result; North – and Lord Morgan, who both dangerous game, had a local man defeated Callaghan turned the constituency into spoke at length with the author about the Shadow Chancellor, it would have a Labour Party fortress; and there was the subject. been so ‘rich a prize’ for the Conservatives never a serious Conservative challenge in Wales that it could have marked a there again. 59

1 Welsh Political Archive (hereafter 18 Dexter, op. cit., p. 113. AGM that his first task on becoming the WPA), National Library of Wales 19 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 31 July candidate was to begin learning about the (hereafter NLW), City of Cardiff 1963. particular problems of Cardiff South East. Conservative Associations (hereafter 20 The Times, 31 July 1963; 10 October 1964. 44 Andrew Edwards, Labour’s Crisis: Plaid CCCA), GB/0210/35, Cardiff South East 21 ibid., 10 October 1964. Cymru, the Conservatives, and the Conservative Association Executive 22 Derek Birley, A Social History of English Decline of the Labour Party in North- Committee and Annual General Meeting Cricket (: Aurum Press, 1999), West Wales, 1960–74 (Cardiff: University minute book, 28 October 1959. p. 292. of Wales Press, 2011), p. 7. 2 F.F.E. Aubel, Welsh Conservatism, 23 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 31 July 45 Felix Aubel, ‘The Conservatives in 1885–1935: Five Studies in Adaption 1963. Wales, 1880–1935’, in Martin Francis [unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Lampeter, 24 ibid. and Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska (eds.), 1994], p. 353; Kenneth O. Morgan, 25 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, AGM 2 The Conservatives and British Society, Callaghan: A Life (Oxford University April 1964. 1880–1990 (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1997), p. 50. 26 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 16 Press, 1996), p. 108. 3 Gareth Elwyn Jones, Modern Wales: A September 1964. 46 Simon Heffer, Like the Roman: The Life Concise History (Cambridge University 27 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 13 of Enoch Powell (London: Weidenfeld & Press, 1995), p. 251. November 1963. Nicolson, 1998), p. 118. 4 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 28 28 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, AGM 2 47 John Gilbert Evans, Devolution in Wales: October 1959. April 1964. claims and responses, 1937–1979 (Cardiff: 5 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, Annual 29 Western Mail, 9 October 1964. University of Wales Press, 2006), p. 49. Report 1959–60. 30 Dan O’Neill, ‘How ‘Lord’ Ted found 48 Conservative Party Archive (hereafter 6 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 13 June himself on a sticky city , Wales CPA), Conservative Central Office 1960. Online, 4 July 2012. (hereafter CCO) 4/2/183, Report on 7 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 26 Jan 31 The Times, 10 October 1964. Industrial Wales, 26 May 1948, p. 9. 1961. 32 Interview, Lord Morgan, 8 October 2015. 49 Tom Hooson and Geoffrey Howe, Work 8 No meeting of the executive committee, or 33 Western Mail, 9 October 1964. At one for Wales: Gwaith I Gymru (London: any other meetings, were held between 17 meeting, G.V. Wynne-Jones lost his Bow Group, 1959), p. 38. October 1962 and 27 June 1963. temper at a heckler, saying: ‘Would the 50 CPA, PUB 229/12/14, J.B. Evans Election 9 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 27 June young man with the cut away collar please Leaflet, 1959. This piece of material urged 1963. put away his tear-away mind’. voters to support ‘the local boy’, and 10 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 31 July 34 The Times, 8 October 1964. there were many other similar sorts of 1963. 35 Interview, Jonathan Evans, 21 November documents. 11 Ivor Thomas Rees, Welsh Hustings: 2014 51 Aubel 1994, op. cit., p. 443. 1885–2004 (Llandybie: Dinefwr 36 ‘Dexter takes a trouncing from James 52 Birley, op. cit., p. 298 Publishers Ltd., 2005), p. 258. By Callaghan’, Western Mail, 16 October 53 Dexter, op. cit., p. 114 parliamentary convention, Roberts 1964, p. 1 54 CPA, CCO 500/42/19, Marked Register was declared to have died at St. 37 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 18 Survey – Cardiff South East, 4 March Thomas’s Hospital, not in the Palace of November 1964. 1963. Westminster. 38 ibid. 55 Lord Roberts of Conwy, Right From the 12 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, June 39 Letter, Edward Dexter to Sam Blaxland, 9 Start: The Memoirs of Sir Wyn Roberts 1963. February 2015. (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2006), 13 See Stephen Parkinson, ‘Tory Olympians’, 40 Interview, Lord Morgan, 8 October 2015. p. 82. Conservative History Journal, vol. II, 41 ibid. 56 Arnold J. James and John E. Thomas, issue 1 (2012), pp. 32–35. 42 Stephen Wagg, “Time Gentlemen Please’: Wales at Westminster: A History of the 14 Ted Dexter, Ted Dexter Declares (London: The Decline of Amateur Captaincy in Parliamentary Representation of Wales The Sportsmans Book Club, 1967), p. 113 English County Cricket’, in Adrian Smith 1800–1979 (Llandysul: Gomer Press, 15 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 31 July and Dilwyn Porter (eds.), Amateurs and 1981), p. 170. 1963. Professionals in Post-War British Sport 57 Morgan, op. cit., p. 195. 16 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 31 July (London: Routledge, 2000), p. 48. 58 ibid. 1963. 43 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 31 July 59 WPA, NLW, CCCA GB/0210/35, 23 17 The Times, 2 August 1963. 1963 – Dexter told the Association’s November 1964.

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