Nicholas Scott

Who was Nicholas Scott?

Sir Nicholas Paul Scott JP was a British Conservative Party politician.

Scott was educated at Clapham College and was national chairman of the Young Conservatives in 1963. He served as a councillor on Holborn Borough Council 1956–59 and 1962–65.

Scott contested Islington South West at the 1959 general election and at the 1964 election.

He entered the House of Commons on his third attempt, at the 1966 general election, he was returned as Member of Parliament for the Paddington South constituency, beating Labour's Conrad Russell. When his seat was abolished in boundary changes for the February 1974 election, he stood in the new Paddington seat, but lost to the outgoing Paddington North MP Arthur Latham.

However, Marcus Worsley, the MP for the safe Conservative seat of Chelsea, decided to retire. Scott was selected as the new Conservative candidate, and at the October 1974 general election, he was returned with over 60% of the vote. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1989. A moderate Conservative, during his time in the House of Commons, he served as minister for social security, disabled people, Northern Ireland and employment. His period as Minister for the Disabled saw him come under attack from many campaigners, including his own daughter, a disability campaigner, when on behalf of the Government he 'talked out' the Civil Rights Bill, a Private member's bill which aimed to outlaw discrimination on grounds of disability. He was succeeded in this post by William Hague.