Sir Cyril David Townsend (born 21 December 1937) is a British politician.

Following service around the world in the British Army, Townsend was elected Conservative Member of Parliament for Bexleyheath in February 1974, October 1974, 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1992, before retiring from his seat in the 1997 election. He introduced the private member's bill that became the Protection of Children Act 1978.

Townsend defected to the Liberal Democrats in summer 2005 but only publicly announced this on 28 January 2006 in support of Sir Ming Campbell's leadership campaign.

Townsend is a former Director of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding. He was knighted in the New Year Honours 1997.

He currently resides in the West Country and is a respected journalist for several newspapers in the Middle East, including Al-Hayat.

External links

• Entry in The Townsend (Townshend) Family Records

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