Tim Stamper

Timothy "Tim" Stamper was a British politician who served as a Junior Whip under Henry Collingridge and Chief Whip of the Conservative Party and Chairman of the Conservative Party under Francis Urquhart. He was also Member of Parliament (MP) for Shotover. Ideologically, Stamper was described as being on the hard right within the Conservative Party. In addition to being uniquely dedicated to Urquhart, Stamper additionally seemed to have taken experience from him in regards to negotiation tactics. Both were often slippery, dubious, and threatening, intending to create fear within opponents and advocates.

Urquhart oversaw Stamper's appointment as Chief Whip and, later, Chairman of the Conservative Party, but Stamper decided to betray Urquhart after Urquhart reneged on a promise to make him Home Secretary during a cabinet reshuffle. Stamper decided to release a tape incriminating Urquhart in the murders of Roger O'Neill and Mattie Storin, conspiring with Urquhart's personal aide Sarah Harding. However, Urquhart arranged for the two of them to be killed with car bombs, making their deaths appear to be Provisional IRA attacks. Stamper was killed when his car exploded outside of New Scotland Yard, where he was preparing to turn in his copies of the tapes to the police.

History

Originally from Essex, Tim Stamper was the Conservative MP for Shotover. Before he was elected to Parliament, he worked as a real estate agent and as a child loved football. During his political career he served as a Junior Whip under Chief Whip Francis Urquhart. The two were close friends and allies, and the two of them were members of the "hard right" of the Conservative Party. In the novels, he had been Urquhart's protégé for 15 years, in the series adaptation 30. Outside of politics he was a member of the Royal Automobile Club, where he often met with his friend Bryan Brynford-Jones.

Stamper had long been anxious to advance in the political ranks of Westminster, and he finally received his wish when Urquhart became Prime Minister. Stamper was swiftly promoted to the rank of Chief Whip. However, shortly after the last ballot of the leadership election, one of his “chaps” brought him a tape they found at the scene of the apparent suicide of Mattie Storin. Stamper listened to the tape in secret, learning that Storin's death was orchestrated by his mentor Urquhart, but intended not to use it against him. Later events, however, eventually forced his hand,

Urquhart oversaw Stamper's appointment as Chief Whip and, later, Chairman of the Conservative Party, but Stamper decided to betray Urquhart after Urquhart reneged on a promise to make him Home Secretary during a cabinet reshuffle. Stamper decided to release the tape incriminating Urquhart in the murders of Roger O'Neill and Mattie Storin, conspiring with Urquhart's personal aide Sarah Harding as “insurance”. However, Urquhart arranged for the two of them to be killed with car bombs, making their deaths appear to be Provisional IRA attacks. Stamper was killed when his car exploded outside of New Scotland Yard, where he was preparing to turn in his tape to the police.

Behind the Scenes

Personality

Stamper was overall a passive and duty-bound man who followed his mentor's orders exactly, although much like Urquhart he could be ruthless, arrogant, ambitious and cruel. Urquhart even refers to him as naturally “thuggy”, a trait that Stamper doesn't seem willing to accept, later asking Francis if “it ever occurred to you that you presume too much” and “that’s not all I’m good for”. This appraisal leaves Stamper's true skills in government debatable. He was rather dry-humoured and at times cheerful about his ruthless streak. In general he is more easygoing than Urquhart, described as having a “familiar, almost camp manner” in the novel. He could at terms serve as a moral figure, once telling off a colleague for making sexual comments about Sarah Harding. Despite this, he was seen as a terrible judge of character, such as not being aware of John Staines's pedophilia. It should however be noted that in the novel he was aware of this fact even before Urquhart is.

His biggest trait however is his loyalty to Francis Urquhart. At points he seems almost attached to the idea of being Urquhart's biggest ally, being jealous of Sarah Harding in the show and Sally Quine in the novels for their closeness to him. After he betrays Urquhart, Stamper's idea of him is shattered to the point he looks teary-eyed thinking about it, saying all he wanted to do was to “serve him, to be close to him”.

Sexuality

While ambiguously read and never outright confirmed, it can be inferred that Stamper was a homosexual and had a romantic driven devotion towards Francis Urquhart.

In the original novel of To Play The King he is introduced as “familiar, almost camp”. During a scene where Francis Urquhart and Sally Quine are trying to get him to leave the room so they can have sex, he feels “rivalry” towards her after an “ember of understanding”.

In the TV adaptation he is originally hesitant to accept the post of Party Chairman but accepts it on the grounds of “whatever you think is right for me”, ultimately putting his trust in Urquhart’s hands blindly, and emphasises their collaboration by saying “we’ll sort it out.” When Sarah tells Stamper that she’s in love with Urquhart, he bitterly mumbles, “I wonder if you know the meaning of the word.” During his speech after getting the tape, he starts getting teary when saying all he wanted was to be close to Urquhart, which implies a romantic attraction. He also seems to see both Mattie and Sarah as “tempting” Urquhart away, as he mocks Mattie when they speak suggesting that she was visiting him for sex, and refers to Sarah as a “whore”.

He is one of the few characters in the show to nickname Urquhart FU, which seems to be an affectionate nickname.

Through this entire analysis he can also be read as a foil to David Mycroft from To Play The King, as Mycroft’s plotline is about him coming to terms with his own homosexuality.

Gallery

Trivia

• While Tim Stamper was included in the television series for House of Cards, he was not included within the first novel written by Michael Dobbs.
• The version of this character in the US version of House of Cards is Doug Stamper.
• The books reveal he is a member of the Royal Automobile Club and Honorary Chairman of his local football club.

v • d • e Main characters House of Cards: Francis • Henry • Elizabeth • Tim • Roger • Mattie To Play the King: Francis • Elizabeth • The King • Tim • Corder • Sarah • Chloe The Final Cut: Francis • Elizabeth • Tom • Maria • Corder • Geoffrey • Claire