Michael Winstanley, Baron Winstanley

File:Michael Winstanley.jpg

Michael Winstanley

Michael Platt Winstanley, Baron Winstanley (27 August 1918 – 18 July 1993) was the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Cheadle from 1966 to 1970 and, after boundary changes, MP for Hazel Grove - a newly created seat broadly comprising half of his former seat - from February to October 1974.

Winstanley was born in Nantwich, Cheshire. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and the University of Manchester where he was President of the University Union and captain of cricket. He graduated in medicine and served in the RAMC before becoming a general practitioner in Urmston. He became a noted media personality as a television and radio doctor in the 1960s and hosting Granada Television's This Is Your Right consumer advice show in the 1970s.

Following his return to the House of Commons in 1974, Winstanley discovered that he held a post which would disqualify him from being a member of the House of Commons - a post of sessional medical officer at a Royal Ordnance Factory that amounted to employment in the Civil Service of the Crown. On 3 April 1974, the Commons passed a motion under section 6 of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957 to override the disqualification and allow Winstanley to sit.

Winstanley was created a life peer on 23 January 1976 with the title of Baron Winstanley, of Urmston in Greater Manchester, during Harold Wilson's second term as Prime Minister.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Michael Winstanley
• Obituary in The Independent

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by William Shepherd	Member of Parliament for Cheadle 1966—1970	Succeeded by Tom Normanton
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Hazel Grove Feb 1974—Oct 1974	Succeeded by Tom Arnold