Ian Grist

British politician

Ian Grist (5 December 1938 – 2 January 2002) was a British Conservative politician. Grist was Member of Parliament (MP) for Cardiff North from February 1974 to 1983, and for Cardiff Central from 1983 until 1992. He also served as a Minister in the Wales Office between June 1987 and November 1990.

Grist was born in Southampton. First he went to prep school in Broadstairs, Kent, after which he was sent to Repton School. Having won a scholarship he studied history at Jesus College, Oxford, from 1957 to 1960. He had joined the Young Conservatives in 1956

At first Grist wanted a career as a colonial administrator. In 1960 he went to the Southern Cameroons as a plebiscite officer, and in 1961 he moved to Nigeria, working as a manager for the United Africa Company. In 1963 he returned to Britain. In 1987 Margaret Thatcher surprisingly appointed him Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales, a post for which his signature posed a problem ("I. Grist" signifying "Jesus Christ" in Welsh His appointment was regarded as controversial.

While in opposition, Grist attacked Welsh devolution, unions, pop festivals and Neil Kinnock, whom he described as "neo Marxist". Under Thatcher he opposed the poll tax and the privatisation of water companies. He also supported the British American alliance. In social matters, he opposed the death penalty, restrictions on abortion, and school corporal punishment. A pro European, he supported Michael Heseltine's leadership challenge.

In 1966 he married Wendy White. They had two sons, Julian and Toby. On the second day of 2002, Grist died of a stroke at the age of 63.