William McKeag

William McKeag MSM (29 June 1897 – 4 October 1972) was a British politician, soldier and solicitor. His political affiliations changed over the years from Liberal to National Liberal, back to Liberal and finally to Conservative, but he never wavered from a fierce loyalty to his native North East of England and was described in his obituary in The Times as one of the North East's leading figures, a keen publicist for the area and for Tyneside in particular.

Early life and education William McKeag was born in County Durham, the son of William McKeag Sr. of Carrville near Belmont. McKeag was educated at Belmont School, at Johnston's School in Durham and privately. Afterwards, McKeag qualified as a solicitor becoming a partner in firm of Molineux McKeag and Cooper, which had offices in Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham. He later became the director of various companies.

Military career McKeag was 17 years old at the outbreak of the Great War. He joined the army and served six years in France, Italy, Turkey and Russia. He fought with the White Russian commanders Anton Ivanovich Denikin and Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel

Political career Parliamentary career At the 1924 general election, McKeag, who had reputation for being a witty and able debater When the Liberal Party led by Sir Herbert Samuel withdrew from the coalition in November 1933, McKeag refused to cross the floor into opposition with Samuel. He then associated himself with the Liberal National group in Parliament led by Sir John Simon at least to allow him to be the nominated National candidate at the 1935 general election, which he fought under the description Liberal National in a straight fight with the former Labour MP Joshua Ritson. Labour were confident of a political revival in 1935, attacking the government on domestic policy and the armaments programme insisting that a vote for the National Government meant a vote for war. Durham went solidly Labour with the party winning every seat in the county, including the Seaham constituency represented by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.

Local politics McKeag resumed political activity at a local level after losing his Parliamentary seat. He resumed his status as a Liberal without prefix or suffix and was elected to Newcastle City Council in 1936. He remained a member of the council for 25 years, during which time he was raised to the Aldermanic Bench, Deputy Mayor and was Mayor of the City twice, in 1951–52 and in 1953–54. In 1966, he was declared an Honorary Freeman of Newcastle. In the event, McKeag did not stand, perhaps because like a large number of electors he found it distasteful to fight an election when the British Expeditionary Force was struggling to get home from the beaches of Dunkirk, perhaps because he did not wish his political career to interfere with his own war service.

McKeag retained his connection with the Liberal Party, holding the positions of President of Tynemouth Liberal Association and Vice–President of Newcastle Liberal Club and he was some time president of the Progressive Party in Newcastle. In the event, the unofficial Conservatives chose not to contest the election, which Elliott won comfortably with a majority of more than 6,000 votes.

Other public service McKeag held a long list of public offices as a result of his professional and political associations with Newcastle, County Durham and the North East of England. He was President of the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Students Association, a member of Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society Council, Under Sheriff of Newcastle upon Tyne; a Governor of Royal Victoria Infirmary; a Governor of Newcastle Royal Grammar School; Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Newcastle Corporation; a Member of Tyneside Industrial Development Board; a member of the Committee of the Institute of Directors of Newcastle upon Tyne; a member of the Tyne Improvement Commission, an organisation which held property along the River Tyne. He also supported many local associations and charities in the North East. He also held the position of Consul for the Republic of Iceland and was a Commander of the Order of the Falcon an Icelandic award for Icelanders and foreigners for achievements in Iceland or internationally.

Personal life and death In 1922, he married Marie Elizabeth, the daughter of William Corn Crow of Newcastle upon Tyne. They had two sons and a daughter together. McKeag died aged 75 years on 4 October 1972 at Whitley Bay.