On This Day

December 22, 1986

Death in a car crash of David Penhaligon, Liberal MP for Truro

Death of David Penhaligon (1944-1986). Penhaligon tried unsuccessfully to get into parliament twice before being elected MP for Truro in October 1974. He was one of the Liberal Party’s most popular figures both inside the party, being the first sitting MP to be elected as party president and with the general public as was seen after his tragic death in a car crash on his way to a constituency engagement. Well known for his community politics, Penhaligon’s famous dictum that if you had something to say to the electorate ‘stick it on a piece of paper and stuff it through their letterbox’ inspired hundreds of Liberal activists to do just that with great success.