John Stradling Thomas

Sir John Stradling Thomas (10 June 1925 – 29 March 1991) was a Welsh Conservative Party politician. He was also a farmer, company director and broadcaster.

Thomas was educated at Rugby School and the University of London. He served as a councillor on Carmarthen Borough Council between 1961 and 1964.

Thomas contested the parliamentary constituency of Aberavon in 1964 and Cardiganshire in 1966. He was Member of Parliament for Monmouth from 1970 until he died in office in 1991. He held various ministerial posts during the Heath and Thatcher administrations, including government Whip, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, Treasurer of HM Household and in the Welsh Office.

In his final years he lived at Dolphin Square in Pimlico, London.

A heart attack suffered by Labour politician Leslie Spriggs in 1974 became the subject of an anecdote by MP Joe Ashton, illustrating the sometimes extreme lengths party whips would go to in cases of Division: