Geoffrey Stevens - Opinions

Opinions

Stevens was a popular man who became Chairman of the United and Cecil Club in 1951, in succession to Eric Errington, a former Conservative MP; he held this role for four years, passing it on to Philip Bell MP. He sought to use his experience of accountancy in Parliament, arguing in 1951 for professional accountants to examine the state of the nationalised industries in order to allow boldness in management while maintaining accountability to the representatives of the public. He was a strong advocate of reductions in taxation and became chairman of the Income Tax-Payers' Society; in 1959 he said that he hoped to see income tax reduced to 6s. in the Pound, the level at the foundation of the society in 1921.

In 1956, Stevens supported British participation in negotiations over European institutions, but rejected the idea of any supra-national authority. The next year he tabled a motion condemning British European Airways for removing the Union Flag from their advertising. Later that year he won a place in the ballot for Private Members Bills, and introduced the Metropolitan Police Act (1839) Amendment Bill which proposed to increase the fine for threatening and insulting behaviour. The Bill received a second reading but did not make further progress. He attempted to introduce binding arbitration for taxation disputes in an amendment to the 1958 Finance Bill.