Ken Hargreaves

Joseph Kenneth Hargreaves, MBE, KSG (1 March 1939 – 23 June 2012) was the Conservative Member of Parliament, for Hyndburn, Lancashire, between 1983 and 1992, when he lost his seat to Greg Pope from Labour. A chartered secretary and company administrator by profession, he served as a local councillor, and mayor, before his election to Parliament.

In 1990, Hargreaves founded the Movement for Christian Democracy, with Liberal Democrat MP David Alton (now Lord Alton of Liverpool), and served as Vice Chairman. After his defeat at the 1992 General Election, he worked for Conservative Central Office, as a liaison to local Conservative clubs.

In May 2005, in the 2005 General Election, he supported the unsuccessful candidate for the Conservatives, James Mawdsley, a human rights campaigner. On 29 December 2006, Hargreaves was made an Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), for services to the community in Lancashire, in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honours.

In June 2012, before his death, he was honoured with a Papal Knighthood of the Order of St Gregory the Great. He died on 23 June 2012 at the East Lancashire Hospice, in Blackburn. A devout Roman Catholic, he was a parishioner of St Mary's RC Church, in Oswaldtwistle.

• Pro life lobby group: Right to Life.
• President: Accrington and District Blind Society
• President: Hyndburn Arthritis Care
• Chairman of the Trustees: Maundy Relief
• Disabled Association for Sport in Hyndburn.