Ernest Marples: The Shadow Behind Beeching

by David Brandon, Martin Upham

Ernest Marples revolutionised three UK government departments. At Transport (1959-1964) he appointed Dr Beeching chairman of British Railways and commissioned him to produce his infamous report, inaugurated motorways and introduced significant regulations for motorists. At Housing (1951-1954) he delivered 300,000 new houses annually and as Postmaster General (1957-1959), he reformed Post Office accounting systems and launched postcodes and Subscriber Trunk Dialling. This first biography of Marples uses newly-available archives to examine public and private transport policy, the growing power of the pro-road lobby and the identification of personal freedom with driving. Railway sentimentalism was no match for these. Marples was lucky not to be implicated in the Profumo Affair which rocked the Conservative Party but his political career was over soon afterwards. Questionable business practices caused his 1975 flight to Monaco hotly pursued by the Inland Revenue. Beeching, unhappy under a Labour government, returned to private industry although he later chaired a Royal Commission. Labour, despite promises, proved little friendlier to the railways but a more positive approach to loss-making passenger services eventually emerged under Barbara Castle. This book should appeal to those interested in Britain's railways and in mid-Twentieth Century British politics.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest review

The book examines the Beeching Report which looked at the railway system and infamous for it cuts but also looks at transport policy around the time and then the Labour Govt took over as well. The book also looks at Marples early career and life after being a MP.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive, detailed and well-researched biography of long-serving and often controversial British politician Ernest Marples, whose policies had a far-reaching impact on the country, not least – and for which he is now most remembered – his commissioning of Dr Beeching to report on the future of British Railways. I was interested to discover that the much-maligned Beeching never had the actual power to close railway lines, although this is what he is now associated with. Wider issues were not his concern. Much of the book is devoted to Beeching and transport matters in general, and anyone interested in Britain’s railways will certainly enjoy the book. And even those who aren’t will find much to enjoy and learn here. Politics isn’t always the most riveting of subjects but the author has done an excellent job of making this biography accessible and as interesting as it can be. Marples had a hand in many other polices in addition to the railways, such as housing and pensions and was both Postmaster General and Minister of Transport. There is a good selection of photographs and illustrations as well. I found the book balanced and non-judgemental and it pays due tribute to Marples’ many achievements. I felt quite sorry by the end that he is not better remembered for these achievements rather than being always tainted by Beeching’s report. It’s a serious read but a very worthwhile one. Stylistically I have a few quibbles. The author speculates a bit too often – “We may speculate that Ernest’s marriage to Edna had not been a happy one…” May we? Later he mentions a “Miss Campbell” and a “Miss Cox” who both are adorned with quotation marks. Was this not their real names? And rather than state that Marples’ first wife “may only have been sixteen”, why not check and find out? One particular sentence felt inexcusable to me. “He may even have lunched with Macmillan on 21st December. If so, it may be highly significant.” No doubt, but was it not documented? I also didn’t like references and citations being placed throughout the text, rather than separately at the end or as footnotes, as this breaks up the reading too intrusively. However, minor quibbles aside, this is an excellent biography and I very much enjoyed it.