K Harvey Proctor was MP for Basildon from 1979 to 1983 and for Billericay from 1983 to 1987.
On Thursday 29th August, at the Longshaw Sheep Dog Trials, I had the unexpected pleasure of running into my dear old friend Matthew Parris. It reminded me of a moment in my life that I will never forget – a moment that quite literally saved my life.
On the evening of May 20, 1987, the night before I was set to plead guilty at Bow Street Magistrates Court, for gross indecency, I was at my lowest depth of despair. The charges, which stemmed from an unjust law that punished men like me simply for being homosexual, weighed heavily on me.
Facing the end of my precious parliamentary career, I decided that I could not face another day. I prepared to take my own life with a bottle of prescribed sleeping pills. I poured a glass of water, sat down at the table and emptied the box when, suddenly, the phone rang.
It was Matthew, inviting me to supper.
I initially declined, but his insistence, friendship and solicitude drew me out of my despair. That dinner – surrounded by a small group of friends in a kitchen filled with warmth and laughter – reminded me that there is life beyond politics. Coincidentally, there was a barrister present, a friend of Matthew’s, who confidently assured me that I would not go to prison and predicted the exact fine I would receive – £1,450.
He was correct.
The following day, I was prosecuted for offences that, as of today, are no longer a crime.
The gross indecency charges I pleaded guilty to were based on an unequal and unjust age of consent – 21 for homosexuals and 16 for heterosexuals. Today, under the “Alan Turing Law,” I can apply to have my record expunged, just as thousands of other men who were prosecuted simply for their sexuality have been pardoned. But back then, the law and society were not as just or as forgiving.
My life and coveted career were shattered, not just by the legal system but by a ruthless media that sought to ruin me for political reasons. Robert Maxwell, in particular, harboured a vendetta against me and orchestrated a sting, using the power of his newspapers, to out me as homosexual, effectively ending my hard-fought parliamentary career in revenge for successfully suing his paper for defaming me.
I share this personal history not for sympathy, but to underscore a larger point. Men are often silenced – not just by societal expectations, but by the weight of injustices that go unaddressed.
Today, suicide remains the leading cause of death among men under 50. Men are more likely to be falsely accused of crimes such as sexual assault, a reality vividly demonstrated by the recent case of Eleanor Williams.
Men face a unique set of challenges – from prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men in the UK, to the growing educational gap where young men from lower socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to attend university than their female peers.
Of course, most violence is perpetrated by men on men.
I have faced four of these five challenges in my life. I was recovering from surgery relating to prostate cancer when a couple of weeks later I was in Newcastle Crown Court as a witness defending myself against Carl Beech’s heinous lies, accusing me of child murder and child sexual abuse. I have also been the victim of several failed murder attacks.
The law on family courts concerning custody of children is unbalanced. As a Member of Parliament, I was constantly made aware of the inequality men faced.
Therefore, I can confidently say that for many reasons, men need an advocate in government.
For 27 years, we have had a Minister for Women, and for 21 years, a Minister for Children. But who speaks for men? Who addresses the specific challenges that men face in our society? Action is long overdue.
I urge Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to create a Minister for Men. This is not just a matter of fairness but of necessity and urgency. The struggles men face are real and pervasive, often leading to silent suffering and tragic outcomes. We need someone in government who will listen, understand, and act on behalf of men across this country.
As I said to Rachel Johnson during an interview on LBC, Sir Keir Starmer can appoint a Minister for Men tomorrow. The time for change is now and I see no reason for delay. We cannot afford to ignore these issues any longer – otherwise, the governments of the last two decades will continue to have blood on their hands.
Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day, and a reminder that it’s crucial to face a harsh reality: suicide takes over 6,000 lives a year in Britain, making it the leading cause of death for those under 35 and the biggest killer of men under 50.
As someone who has battled PTSD and faced the edge of despair, I understand the crushing weight of hopelessness. But there are people ready to listen and help—whether it’s a friend, family member, or a charity. This darkness doesn’t last forever.
Reach out. You don’t have to suffer in silence. Remember, this too shall pass.
K Harvey Proctor was MP for Basildon from 1979 to 1983 and for Billericay from 1983 to 1987.
On Thursday 29th August, at the Longshaw Sheep Dog Trials, I had the unexpected pleasure of running into my dear old friend Matthew Parris. It reminded me of a moment in my life that I will never forget – a moment that quite literally saved my life.
On the evening of May 20, 1987, the night before I was set to plead guilty at Bow Street Magistrates Court, for gross indecency, I was at my lowest depth of despair. The charges, which stemmed from an unjust law that punished men like me simply for being homosexual, weighed heavily on me.
Facing the end of my precious parliamentary career, I decided that I could not face another day. I prepared to take my own life with a bottle of prescribed sleeping pills. I poured a glass of water, sat down at the table and emptied the box when, suddenly, the phone rang.
It was Matthew, inviting me to supper.
I initially declined, but his insistence, friendship and solicitude drew me out of my despair. That dinner – surrounded by a small group of friends in a kitchen filled with warmth and laughter – reminded me that there is life beyond politics. Coincidentally, there was a barrister present, a friend of Matthew’s, who confidently assured me that I would not go to prison and predicted the exact fine I would receive – £1,450.
He was correct.
The following day, I was prosecuted for offences that, as of today, are no longer a crime.
The gross indecency charges I pleaded guilty to were based on an unequal and unjust age of consent – 21 for homosexuals and 16 for heterosexuals. Today, under the “Alan Turing Law,” I can apply to have my record expunged, just as thousands of other men who were prosecuted simply for their sexuality have been pardoned. But back then, the law and society were not as just or as forgiving.
My life and coveted career were shattered, not just by the legal system but by a ruthless media that sought to ruin me for political reasons. Robert Maxwell, in particular, harboured a vendetta against me and orchestrated a sting, using the power of his newspapers, to out me as homosexual, effectively ending my hard-fought parliamentary career in revenge for successfully suing his paper for defaming me.
I share this personal history not for sympathy, but to underscore a larger point. Men are often silenced – not just by societal expectations, but by the weight of injustices that go unaddressed.
Today, suicide remains the leading cause of death among men under 50. Men are more likely to be falsely accused of crimes such as sexual assault, a reality vividly demonstrated by the recent case of Eleanor Williams.
Men face a unique set of challenges – from prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men in the UK, to the growing educational gap where young men from lower socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to attend university than their female peers.
Of course, most violence is perpetrated by men on men.
I have faced four of these five challenges in my life. I was recovering from surgery relating to prostate cancer when a couple of weeks later I was in Newcastle Crown Court as a witness defending myself against Carl Beech’s heinous lies, accusing me of child murder and child sexual abuse. I have also been the victim of several failed murder attacks.
The law on family courts concerning custody of children is unbalanced. As a Member of Parliament, I was constantly made aware of the inequality men faced.
Therefore, I can confidently say that for many reasons, men need an advocate in government.
For 27 years, we have had a Minister for Women, and for 21 years, a Minister for Children. But who speaks for men? Who addresses the specific challenges that men face in our society? Action is long overdue.
I urge Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to create a Minister for Men. This is not just a matter of fairness but of necessity and urgency. The struggles men face are real and pervasive, often leading to silent suffering and tragic outcomes. We need someone in government who will listen, understand, and act on behalf of men across this country.
As I said to Rachel Johnson during an interview on LBC, Sir Keir Starmer can appoint a Minister for Men tomorrow. The time for change is now and I see no reason for delay. We cannot afford to ignore these issues any longer – otherwise, the governments of the last two decades will continue to have blood on their hands.
Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day, and a reminder that it’s crucial to face a harsh reality: suicide takes over 6,000 lives a year in Britain, making it the leading cause of death for those under 35 and the biggest killer of men under 50.
As someone who has battled PTSD and faced the edge of despair, I understand the crushing weight of hopelessness. But there are people ready to listen and help—whether it’s a friend, family member, or a charity. This darkness doesn’t last forever.
Reach out. You don’t have to suffer in silence. Remember, this too shall pass.