“Anyone who has served in parliament is in awe of Hansard whose writers turn
speech uttered in debate up to 10.30 pm into written English by first thing the
following morning. Like probably most MPs, I had always believed that it was Mr
Hansard who pioneered this verbatim report. I was wrong! It was a remarkable
radical, Brass Crosby who led the successful campaign to have the parliamentary
debates accurately reported and published. I have learnt this, courtesy of Suzanne
Fletcher’s erudite but racy biography of Brass Crosby. He was born in Stockton and
Suzanne was intrigued by his name not appearing anywhere in the town. Brass Crosby
was involved in other radical campaigns, including ending the press-ganging of
youths into the navy in times of war and he used his key position as the Lord Mayor
of London with great political skill. He was a remarkable man and Suzanne is to be
congratulated on bringing him into public view.”
Michael Meadowcroft, Liberal historian and former Liberal MP
“The wonderfully named and wonderfully bold Brass Crosby, native of Stockton
and Lord Mayor of London, has been largely unknown even to those of us who take
an interest in the long battle for civil liberties and press freedom. Suzanne Fletcher
has provided us with a thoroughly researched and very entertaining account of this
remarkable man, and set him in the context of 18th century English politics. Legal
and business success, and marrying rich wives, gave him status which he used for
the public good. To him we owe the right for debates in Parliament to be published
and reported in the press, a battle which saw him committed to the Tower. His is a
story which needed to be told.”
Alan Beith, former MP for Berwick (1973-2015), former Liberal Democrat Deputy
Leader, now Lord Beith
“Illuminating and a link into Stockton’s history that I was completely unaware of,
but better for knowing and certainly more understanding of the ‘bold as brass’.”
Neil Schneider, former Chief Executive of Stockton on Tees Borough Council
Very enjoyable book to be involved with. Every political home should have a copy!
Christine Headley