Alexandrian Ptolemais
14-03-2007, 04:15
ALBERTON - Former Deputy Prime Minister, William Fox died last night at the age of 106, of natural causes. Fox first joined the Reform Party in 1922, and became an MP in 1925 by winning the Northern New Leinster electorate from the Liberal Party. As an electorate MP, he worked extremely hard and by the 1928 election, had established Northern New Leinster as a solid Reform electorate.
During the 1930s, Fox worked his way up the ranks and by 1936 had been made Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as being Deputy Leader of the Reform Party, a position which he held for nine years before he became Party Leader in 1945 after the resignation of then leader Richard Thompson. At that stage, he also became Deputy Prime Minister. Fox, noticing that there were a large number of parties in Parliament, and also noticing that most of them believed in the same principles; in 1947 formed the Conservative Alliance, made up of his own Reform Party, as well as the Catholic Christian Conservative Party; the Christian Democrat Party; the Conservative Party; the Whig Party and the United Party.
The 1948 election proved to be the beginning of the modern Conservative Alliance, and in spite of relegation to the Opposition Benches, by 1952, they were back in government and Fox began a very long period as Deputy Prime Minister. During the 1960s and 1970s, the Alliance, as it was nicknamed, grew from strength to strength, and in spite of age catching up with him, Fox was still able to handle the stresses of Parliament, and after 1968, was also known as "Father of the House." By the early 1980s, it was believed that the Conservative Alliance would become the dominant party in Parliament and Fox was hoping that his chance to become Prime Minister was near, however, his hopes were badly dashed in the 1984 election when he lost the Deputy Prime Ministership as Labour entered office for the first time in forty years, and then a heart attack in 1985 which signalled the end of his sixty year career in politics.
When the Nationalists and the Conservative Alliance re-entered office in 1988, he was appointed as the Viscount of Alberton in recognition of his long serving career, and proceeded to the Executive Council. In spite of his appointment to the high position, he was rarely active in the Executive Council and instead enjoyed quiet retirement in Alberton, where he had made his home after retiring from politics. He remained there until his death last night.
All flags are to be flown at half-mast for the remainder of the week, and it is expected that his body will lay in state during that period before his funeral on Monday
During the 1930s, Fox worked his way up the ranks and by 1936 had been made Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as being Deputy Leader of the Reform Party, a position which he held for nine years before he became Party Leader in 1945 after the resignation of then leader Richard Thompson. At that stage, he also became Deputy Prime Minister. Fox, noticing that there were a large number of parties in Parliament, and also noticing that most of them believed in the same principles; in 1947 formed the Conservative Alliance, made up of his own Reform Party, as well as the Catholic Christian Conservative Party; the Christian Democrat Party; the Conservative Party; the Whig Party and the United Party.
The 1948 election proved to be the beginning of the modern Conservative Alliance, and in spite of relegation to the Opposition Benches, by 1952, they were back in government and Fox began a very long period as Deputy Prime Minister. During the 1960s and 1970s, the Alliance, as it was nicknamed, grew from strength to strength, and in spite of age catching up with him, Fox was still able to handle the stresses of Parliament, and after 1968, was also known as "Father of the House." By the early 1980s, it was believed that the Conservative Alliance would become the dominant party in Parliament and Fox was hoping that his chance to become Prime Minister was near, however, his hopes were badly dashed in the 1984 election when he lost the Deputy Prime Ministership as Labour entered office for the first time in forty years, and then a heart attack in 1985 which signalled the end of his sixty year career in politics.
When the Nationalists and the Conservative Alliance re-entered office in 1988, he was appointed as the Viscount of Alberton in recognition of his long serving career, and proceeded to the Executive Council. In spite of his appointment to the high position, he was rarely active in the Executive Council and instead enjoyed quiet retirement in Alberton, where he had made his home after retiring from politics. He remained there until his death last night.
All flags are to be flown at half-mast for the remainder of the week, and it is expected that his body will lay in state during that period before his funeral on Monday