Role British Politician | ||
 | ||
Name Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler | ||
Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler (born 13 January 1934) is a British former politician. In 1981, he defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the only Conservative Member of Parliament to do so.
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Parliamentary career
After unsuccessfully contesting West Ham North in 1964, Brocklebank-Fowler entered Parliament as a Conservative MP at the 1970 general election, representing the constituency of King's Lynn. This seat was abolished at the February 1974 general election, and Brocklebank-Fowler was elected for the new North West Norfolk seat.
In 1981, Brocklebank-Fowler defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), crossing the floor during a parliamentary debate on the budget. However, at the 1983 general election the Conservatives regained North West Norfolk with a majority of about 3,000. Brocklebank-Fowler contested the seat again at the 1987 general election, but lost by a much wider margin.
Later career
After the SDP's merger with the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats, Brocklebank-Fowler contested the South Norfolk constituency at the 1992 general election, but once again finished second. In 1996, Brocklebank-Fowler joined the Labour Party.