Michael Steed - Revision history

Wessexman at 22:11, 10 September 2024

2024-09-10T22:11:47Z

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	==Personal life==		==Personal life==

	Steed was married in 1970 to a former Swedish diplomat Margareta Holmstedt. They lived together in [[Todmorden]]. In later life Steed lived with his male partner in the Canterbury area.		Steed was married in London in 1970 to a former Swedish diplomat Margareta Holmstedt. Both served as local councillors in Todmorden. They lived together in [[Todmorden]]. In later life Steed lived with Barry Clements,his male partner, in the Canterbury area.

	==References==		==References==

Wessexman: marriage 1970

2024-09-10T21:55:04Z

marriage 1970

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	For many years Michael Steed was a leading light in the [[Campaign for Homosexual Equality]]. He became chairman of the organisation in succession to [[Allan Horsfall]], and subsequently had other roles on the Executive Committee, including Treasurer. At a time when there was still great hostility to gay rights, he spoke out at public meetings, including an acrimonious one in [[Burnley]] in 1971 over the proposed establishment of a gay club, at which he shared the platform with [[Ray Gosling]]. This meeting has come to be seen as a watershed in the emergence of a national grass-roots gay rights movement in Britain.<ref>"Tempers fly at 'club' meeting", ''Burnley Express'', 3 August 1971.</ref>		For many years Michael Steed was a leading light in the [[Campaign for Homosexual Equality]]. He became chairman of the organisation in succession to [[Allan Horsfall]], and subsequently had other roles on the Executive Committee, including Treasurer. At a time when there was still great hostility to gay rights, he spoke out at public meetings, including an acrimonious one in [[Burnley]] in 1971 over the proposed establishment of a gay club, at which he shared the platform with [[Ray Gosling]]. This meeting has come to be seen as a watershed in the emergence of a national grass-roots gay rights movement in Britain.<ref>"Tempers fly at 'club' meeting", ''Burnley Express'', 3 August 1971.</ref>
	Steed retired from being Chair of CHE after the 1974 Malvern Conference and was succeeded by Barrie Kenyon <ref> Gay News Issue 51 1974 </ref>.		Steed retired from being Chair of CHE after the 1974 Malvern Conference and was succeeded by Barrie Kenyon <ref> Gay News Issue 51 1974 </ref>.

			==Personal life==

			Steed was married in 1970 to a former Swedish diplomat Margareta Holmstedt. They lived together in [[Todmorden]]. In later life Steed lived with his male partner in the Canterbury area.

	==References==		==References==

Wessexman: living in Todmorden

2024-08-21T14:36:13Z

living in Todmorden

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:36, 21 August 2024
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	==Academic career==		==Academic career==

	In 1966 he became Lecturer in Government at [[Manchester University]], a post he held for many years until taking early retirement through ill health. As a psephologist he became a specialist in the detailed analysis of election results from a sociological point of view, for many years providing media such as ''The Observer'' and ''The Economist'' with texts making such complexities as "percentage swing" accessible to the lay reader.<ref>E.g. Peter Pulzer and Michael Steed, "What your votes foretell", ''The Observer'', London, 12 April 1964.</ref> In the later 1960s and throughout the 1970s he made regular television appearances on "election night" programmes, often at the side of Bob McKenzie, who popularised the "swingometer" based on the concept of swing devised by David Butler.<ref>Eg "The Night of the Machines: Clive James on the BBC's great election spectacular", ''The Observer'', 13 October 1974.</ref> Steed was to develop a more complex formula for calculating swing, sometimes known among psephologists as "Steed swing" to differentiate it from "Butler swing".		In 1966 he became Lecturer in Government at [[Manchester University]], a post he held for many years until taking early retirement through ill health. He lived for a while in [[Todmorden]] <ref> In 1974 he sold his house at 8 Longfield Road Todmorden to Chris Bowden-Smith. Subsequently Bowden-Smith moved to West Kirby and Tony Hancock moved in with Micky Gibberd (conversation Clifford Williams with Michael Steed)</ref>. As a psephologist he became a specialist in the detailed analysis of election results from a sociological point of view, for many years providing media such as ''The Observer'' and ''The Economist'' with texts making such complexities as "percentage swing" accessible to the lay reader.<ref>E.g. Peter Pulzer and Michael Steed, "What your votes foretell", ''The Observer'', London, 12 April 1964.</ref> In the later 1960s and throughout the 1970s he made regular television appearances on "election night" programmes, often at the side of Bob McKenzie, who popularised the "swingometer" based on the concept of swing devised by David Butler.<ref>Eg "The Night of the Machines: Clive James on the BBC's great election spectacular", ''The Observer'', 13 October 1974.</ref> Steed was to develop a more complex formula for calculating swing, sometimes known among psephologists as "Steed swing" to differentiate it from "Butler swing".

	From 1964 until 2005, Steed - latterly in conjunction with John Curtice - was responsible for the statistical analysis in David Butler's regular Nuffield election studies entitled "The British General Election of ...".<ref>Richard Rose, "The Nuffield election studies come of age", ''The Times'', 27 October 1966, p 13</ref><ref>David McKie, "A man with a franchise to unlock the secret of the ballot", ''The Guardian'', London, 15 April 1988</ref>		From 1964 until 2005, Steed - latterly in conjunction with John Curtice - was responsible for the statistical analysis in David Butler's regular Nuffield election studies entitled "The British General Election of ...".<ref>Richard Rose, "The Nuffield election studies come of age", ''The Times'', 27 October 1966, p 13</ref><ref>David McKie, "A man with a franchise to unlock the secret of the ballot", ''The Guardian'', London, 15 April 1988</ref>

Wessexman: updated categories

2023-11-29T11:54:38Z

updated categories

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	<references/>		<references/>

	~~[[Category:Academics]]~~
	~~[[Category:Campaigners]]~~
	[[Category:Liberal politicians]]		[[Category:Liberal politicians]]
	[[Category:1940 births]]		[[Category:1940 births]]
			[[Category:2023 deaths]]

Wessexman at 22:26, 26 November 2023

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	[[Category:Liberal politicians]]		[[Category:Liberal politicians]]
	[[Category:1940 births]]		[[Category:1940 births]]
	~~[[Category:Living people]]~~

Wessexman at 22:23, 26 November 2023

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	[[File:Michael Steed at Gateshead.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Michael Steed in 2012]]'''Michael Steed''' (1940-2023) was a psephologist, political scientist, broadcaster, activist and [[Liberal Democrat]] politician. He ~~has written~~ extensively on parties and elections.		[[File:Michael Steed at Gateshead.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Michael Steed in 2012]]'''Michael Steed''' (1940-2023) was a psephologist, political scientist, broadcaster, activist and [[Liberal Democrat]] politician. He wrote extensively on parties and elections.

	==Early life==		==Early life==

Wessexman: death in 2023

2023-11-26T22:22:19Z

death in 2023

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	[[File:Michael Steed at Gateshead.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Michael Steed in 2012]]'''Michael Steed''' (~~born~~ 1940) is a psephologist, political scientist, broadcaster, activist and [[Liberal Democrat]] politician. He has written extensively on parties and elections.		[[File:Michael Steed at Gateshead.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|Michael Steed in 2012]]'''Michael Steed''' (1940-2023) was a psephologist, political scientist, broadcaster, activist and [[Liberal Democrat]] politician. He has written extensively on parties and elections.

	==Early life==		==Early life==
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	Steed was elected President of the Liberal Party for 1978-79.<ref>"Next Liberal president", ''The Guardian'', 7 October 1977</ref>		Steed was elected President of the Liberal Party for 1978-79.<ref>"Next Liberal president", ''The Guardian'', 7 October 1977</ref>

	In retirement, Michael Steed ~~has~~ returned to his native East Kent, where he was active in local Liberal Democrat politics. In July 2008 he was elected to [[Canterbury]] City Council.		In retirement, Michael Steed returned to his native East Kent, where he was active in local Liberal Democrat politics. In July 2008 he was elected to [[Canterbury]] City Council.

	In 2012, Michael Steed was elected to the Council of the Social Liberal Forum.<ref>http://socialliberal.net/2012/09/09/social-liberal-forum-announce-newly-elected-council/ Social Liberal Forum 9 September 2012 "Social Liberal Forum announce newly elected Council"</ref>		In 2012, Michael Steed was elected to the Council of the Social Liberal Forum.<ref>http://socialliberal.net/2012/09/09/social-liberal-forum-announce-newly-elected-council/ Social Liberal Forum 9 September 2012 "Social Liberal Forum announce newly elected Council"</ref>

			Michael Steed died in 2023. Some of his research papers were transferred to Bristol University Archives.

	==Gay campaigning==		==Gay campaigning==

Wessexman: /* Gay campaigning */ Chair of CHE until 1974

2023-07-18T18:54:12Z

Gay campaigning: Chair of CHE until 1974

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	For many years Michael Steed was a leading light in the [[Campaign for Homosexual Equality]]. He became chairman of the organisation in succession to [[Allan Horsfall]], and subsequently had other roles on the Executive Committee, including Treasurer. At a time when there was still great hostility to gay rights, he spoke out at public meetings, including an acrimonious one in [[Burnley]] in 1971 over the proposed establishment of a gay club, at which he shared the platform with [[Ray Gosling]]. This meeting has come to be seen as a watershed in the emergence of a national grass-roots gay rights movement in Britain.<ref>"Tempers fly at 'club' meeting", ''Burnley Express'', 3 August 1971.</ref>		For many years Michael Steed was a leading light in the [[Campaign for Homosexual Equality]]. He became chairman of the organisation in succession to [[Allan Horsfall]], and subsequently had other roles on the Executive Committee, including Treasurer. At a time when there was still great hostility to gay rights, he spoke out at public meetings, including an acrimonious one in [[Burnley]] in 1971 over the proposed establishment of a gay club, at which he shared the platform with [[Ray Gosling]]. This meeting has come to be seen as a watershed in the emergence of a national grass-roots gay rights movement in Britain.<ref>"Tempers fly at 'club' meeting", ''Burnley Express'', 3 August 1971.</ref>
			Steed retired from being Chair of CHE after the 1974 Malvern Conference and was succeeded by Barrie Kenyon <ref> Gay News Issue 51 1974 </ref>.

	==References==		==References==

Wessexman: added image

2023-07-10T17:24:18Z

added image

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:24, 10 July 2023
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	==Political career==		==Political career==

	Steed was a leading member of the "radical" wing of the Liberal Party which in the late 1960s and 1970s found itself at odds with the parliamentary party and its leader [[Jeremy Thorpe]] over a number of issues. In particular, Steed and his colleagues felt that "the party must shift attention away from personalities to a wide-ranging debate about ideology, principles and policies".<ref>"Liberal calls to end 'slanging': Leader will face his critics", ''The Times'', 17 June 1968, p.2.</ref><ref>"Renewed challenge to Thorpe leadership", ''The Guardian'', London, 15 September 1969.</ref> He contributed several articles to the radical monthly, ''New Outlook''. For a time he was an elected member of the Party's national executive.[[File:Steed1967.jpg\|thumb\|left\|By election communication card 1967]]		Steed was a leading member of the "radical" wing of the Liberal Party which in the late 1960s and 1970s found itself at odds with the parliamentary party and its leader [[Jeremy Thorpe]] over a number of issues. In particular, Steed and his colleagues felt that "the party must shift attention away from personalities to a wide-ranging debate about ideology, principles and policies".<ref>"Liberal calls to end 'slanging': Leader will face his critics", ''The Times'', 17 June 1968, p.2.</ref><ref>"Renewed challenge to Thorpe leadership", ''The Guardian'', London, 15 September 1969.</ref> He contributed several articles to the radical monthly, ''New Outlook''. For a time he was an elected member of the Party's national executive.[[File:Steed1967.jpg\|thumb\|left\|By-election communication card 1967]]

	Michael Steed has always been an ardent pro-European, and his study of parties and elections soon came to embrace continental as well as UK politics. <ref>E.g. Michael Steed, "De Gaulle no longer a 'national' leader", ''The Guardian'', 23 December 1965</ref> In 1969 he called for a common European currency.<ref>"Flexible pound urged", ''The Times'', 20 September 1969, page 15</ref>		Michael Steed has always been an ardent pro-European, and his study of parties and elections soon came to embrace continental as well as UK politics. <ref>E.g. Michael Steed, "De Gaulle no longer a 'national' leader", ''The Guardian'', 23 December 1965</ref> In 1969 he called for a common European currency.<ref>"Flexible pound urged", ''The Times'', 20 September 1969, page 15</ref>
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	Michael Steed consistently called for wide-ranging constitutional reform, including devolution all round, with elected regional governments, a more proportional election system, and the abolition of a Prime Minister's right to dissolve Parliament on a whim.<ref>See e.g. Michael Steed, "Changing the rules of the general election game", ''The Times'', 19 June 1975, p.14. </ref> The last of this list of objectives was finally achieved by the Fixed Term Parliament Act passed in 2011.<ref>http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/14/contents/enacted Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011</ref>		Michael Steed consistently called for wide-ranging constitutional reform, including devolution all round, with elected regional governments, a more proportional election system, and the abolition of a Prime Minister's right to dissolve Parliament on a whim.<ref>See e.g. Michael Steed, "Changing the rules of the general election game", ''The Times'', 19 June 1975, p.14. </ref> The last of this list of objectives was finally achieved by the Fixed Term Parliament Act passed in 2011.<ref>http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/14/contents/enacted Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011</ref>

	He stood as Liberal Party candidate in the 1967 [[Brierley Hill]] by-election<ref>"Liberal choice is lecturer", ''The Guardian'', 8 April 1967</ref> and the 1973 [[Manchester]] Exchange by-election, in which he pushed the Conservatives into a poor third place.<ref>John Chartres, "Domestic issues dominate by-election", ''The Times'', 14 June 1973, page 3</ref> <ref> Manchester Exchange by election was held on a Wednesday- the last time a parliamentary election has been held on any day other than a Thursday </ref>. In the 1970 general election he was the party's candidate for [[Truro]]. In the February 1974 general election he stood in Manchester Central.<ref>''The Times'', 14 February 1974, page 7</ref> In the 1979 European elections, he was the Liberal candidate for [[Greater Manchester]] North, where he was defeated by Barbara Castle.<ref>http://www.election.demon.co.uk/ "David Boothroyd's United Kingdom Election Results"</ref> In the 1983 general election he was the party's candidate in [[Burnley]].		He stood as Liberal Party candidate in the 1967 [[Brierley Hill]] by-election<ref>"Liberal choice is lecturer", ''The Guardian'', 8 April 1967</ref> and the 1973 [[Manchester]] Exchange by-election, in which he pushed the Conservatives into a poor third place.<ref>John Chartres, "Domestic issues dominate by-election", ''The Times'', 14 June 1973, page 3</ref> <ref> Manchester Exchange by election was held on a Wednesday- the last time a parliamentary election has been held on any day other than a Thursday </ref>. In the 1970 general election he was the party's candidate for [[Truro]]. In the February 1974 general election he stood in Manchester Central.<ref>''The Times'', 14 February 1974, page 7</ref> In the 1979 European elections, he was the Liberal candidate for [[Greater Manchester]] North, where he was defeated by Barbara Castle.<ref>http://www.election.demon.co.uk/ "David Boothroyd's United Kingdom Election Results"</ref> In the 1983 general election he was the party's candidate in [[Burnley]]. [[File:Steed67byelection.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Election address 1967 Brierley Hill by-election]]

	In 1975, with his former CHE colleague [[Paul Temperton]], he founded ''Northern Democrat'', a magazine calling for democratic regional government.<ref>"Power to the North urged", ''The Guardian'', 7 February 1975</ref><ref>"Growing concern in North at devolution proposals", ''The Times'', 4 November 1976, page 4</ref> This later developed into the Campaign for the North, an all-party group pressing for devolution for the English regions as well as Scotland and Wales, with Steed as Chairman and Temperton as Director, using funding from the Rowntree Trust.<ref>John Chartres, "Northern campaign against 'London chauvinism'", ''The Times'', London, 30 August 1977, p.3.</ref> <ref>James Lewis, "Crying halt to South-east oligarchy: Northern grass roots movement seeks an end to 'over-centralisation'", ''The Guardian'', 23 May 1978</ref>		In 1975, with his former CHE colleague [[Paul Temperton]], he founded ''Northern Democrat'', a magazine calling for democratic regional government.<ref>"Power to the North urged", ''The Guardian'', 7 February 1975</ref><ref>"Growing concern in North at devolution proposals", ''The Times'', 4 November 1976, page 4</ref> This later developed into the Campaign for the North, an all-party group pressing for devolution for the English regions as well as Scotland and Wales, with Steed as Chairman and Temperton as Director, using funding from the Rowntree Trust.<ref>John Chartres, "Northern campaign against 'London chauvinism'", ''The Times'', London, 30 August 1977, p.3.</ref> <ref>James Lewis, "Crying halt to South-east oligarchy: Northern grass roots movement seeks an end to 'over-centralisation'", ''The Guardian'', 23 May 1978</ref>

Wessexman: added image

2023-07-10T17:18:01Z

added image

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:18, 10 July 2023
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	==Political career==		==Political career==

	Steed was a leading member of the "radical" wing of the Liberal Party which in the late 1960s and 1970s found itself at odds with the parliamentary party and its leader [[Jeremy Thorpe]] over a number of issues. In particular, Steed and his colleagues felt that "the party must shift attention away from personalities to a wide-ranging debate about ideology, principles and policies".<ref>"Liberal calls to end 'slanging': Leader will face his critics", ''The Times'', 17 June 1968, p.2.</ref><ref>"Renewed challenge to Thorpe leadership", ''The Guardian'', London, 15 September 1969.</ref> He contributed several articles to the radical monthly, ''New Outlook''. For a time he was an elected member of the Party's national executive.		Steed was a leading member of the "radical" wing of the Liberal Party which in the late 1960s and 1970s found itself at odds with the parliamentary party and its leader [[Jeremy Thorpe]] over a number of issues. In particular, Steed and his colleagues felt that "the party must shift attention away from personalities to a wide-ranging debate about ideology, principles and policies".<ref>"Liberal calls to end 'slanging': Leader will face his critics", ''The Times'', 17 June 1968, p.2.</ref><ref>"Renewed challenge to Thorpe leadership", ''The Guardian'', London, 15 September 1969.</ref> He contributed several articles to the radical monthly, ''New Outlook''. For a time he was an elected member of the Party's national executive.[[File:Steed1967.jpg\|thumb\|left\|By election communication card 1967]]

	Michael Steed has always been an ardent pro-European, and his study of parties and elections soon came to embrace continental as well as UK politics. <ref>E.g. Michael Steed, "De Gaulle no longer a 'national' leader", ''The Guardian'', 23 December 1965</ref> In 1969 he called for a common European currency.<ref>"Flexible pound urged", ''The Times'', 20 September 1969, page 15</ref>		Michael Steed has always been an ardent pro-European, and his study of parties and elections soon came to embrace continental as well as UK politics. <ref>E.g. Michael Steed, "De Gaulle no longer a 'national' leader", ''The Guardian'', 23 December 1965</ref> In 1969 he called for a common European currency.<ref>"Flexible pound urged", ''The Times'', 20 September 1969, page 15</ref>