Thomas Taylor, Baron Taylor of Blackburn

Thomas Taylor, Baron Taylor of Blackburn, He was awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1969 Queen's Birthday Honours list. He served as leader of Blackburn Council from 1972 to 1976, on the recommendation of fellow church-goer and former leader Sir George Eddie. For his services to local government, he was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1974 Queen's Birthday Honours.

One of Taylor's successes as a councillor was the setting up of special centres to help recent immigrants who had arrived in the town to work in the textile industry. As chairman of the education committee, he imposed a ceiling of 7% on the number of immigrant children in any one school, bussing additional children to other schools. The aim was to ensure an ethnic mix in local schools to promote social integration and help the children learn English.

He became leader of education services on Lancashire County Council, as well as being Chairman of the juvenile bench. A consensual politician in the tradition of Hugh Gaitskell, he steered comprehensive education through despite some concerns in the town. There he developed the Rochdale tradition of co-operative societies on the council bringing together teachers and parents on a corporatist model. He utilized the leverage of businesses to help finance educational needs by brokerage of a third way for community uses of premises out of school hours and during holidays. He was not a particular friend of Barbara Castle, the local MP who was so close to Prime Minister Harold Wilson, and was delighted to influence the succession of Jack Straw to the seat on her retirement. Taylor's socialist circle included James Callaghan; when Taylor lost his seat on the Blackburn Council in 1976 he was a natural recruit for the labour peerage.

Taylor was Chairman of the Electricity Consultative Council for the Northwest and a member of the Board of Norweb from 1977 to 1980. He served on various governmental bodies connected with education in the region, including the North West Economic Planning Council and the North West Area Health Authority. He was created a Life Peer on 4 May 1978 taking the title Baron Taylor of Blackburn, of Blackburn in the County of Lancashire.

He was listed in Who's Who 2009 as a non-executive director of Drax Power Ltd and A Division Holdings, a Consultant to BAE Systems plc; Initial Electronic Security Systems Ltd; and an adviser to Electronic Data Systems Ltd, AES Electric Ltd, United Utilities plc, Experian, and Capgemini UK plc. By 30 January 2009, he was an adviser to NPL Estates, Alcatel-Lucent, Canatxx Energy Ventures Ltd, BT plc, Gersphere UK and T-Systems; and a non-executive director only of A Division Holdings.

He was president or patron of various organizations and held an Hon. LLD from the University of Lancaster from 1996. He was a Freeman of Blackburn and the City of London. At various times in his career, he was also chairman of the National Foundation for Visual Aids.

Health Labour was in opposition in 1983, and Taylor was alleged to have been a likely appointment to the front bench, but his wife committed him to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983, due to a problem with alcohol. Taylor applied for a writ of habeas corpus arguing that the Mental Health Act could not apply to peers when the House was sitting. After 19 days in hospital, his barrister secured his release, and the case never came to court. Taylor was duped, and his behavior exposed by the reporter's 'sting' operation. The Conservative leader in Blackburn with Darwen demanded that the Freedom of the City Award be stripped from the former councillor. A few days later on 20 May 2009, the House of Lords considered the report of its Privileges Committee and voted to suspend Taylor and Peter Truscott for six months, the first such action since the 17th century.

Expenses Over the 2014–15 parliamentary session, Taylor claimed £43,110 in expenses, including £29,100 in tax-free attendance allowances, during which he did not speak in the House of Lords. Taylor, then aged 86, defended his record by stating he votes regularly and only speaks on matters of which he has some knowledge or experience.

Death On 17 November 2016, Taylor was involved in an accident when his mobility scooter collided with a van on the corner of Millbank and Great College Street, near the House of Lords. He died on 25 November 2016 as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Angela Smith, Shadow leader of the House of Lords, said he would be "sadly missed". She continued, "Tom Taylor had a life-long commitment to the Labour Party, through both local government and Parliament, and was held in high regard and with great affection by his party colleagues." The Metropolitan Police investigated the scene and detained a 55-year-old man but had not pressed charges at the time of the baron’s death in hospital. In March 2018, the driver admitted to causing the death by careless driving and was given a 24-week suspended sentence on 9 April 2018.

Arms

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