Constituency: Liverpool West Derby 1964-81 (Labour ), 1981-83 ( SDP )
Eric delayed joining the SDP until it became clear he wouldn't be re-selected by Labour. He had supported the then-Gang of Three's public letter in 1980 but wasn't a natural fit for the party.
Eric was a former miner, and textile worker who studied at the Wigan and District Mining and Technical College. His father was a printer. He started out as a Bevin boy in World War Two then switched to the navy where he became a radio operator making regular crossings in the Atlantic convoys. He was a councillor until his election in 1964 when he gained the seat from the Tories. He increased his vote at every election up to 1979. He was criticised by the local party for supporting a pay rise for MPs in 1975. He supported Reg Prentice but expressed disappointment that he didn't provide a standard around which the Right could group. Eric was accused of neglecting his constituency in the seventies. His neighbour Eric Heffer claimed he had to pick up much of Eric's casework. He was noted for forming a strong friendship with his Conservative pair, Michael Shersby. He nominated Dennis Healey for the leadership in 1980 but was away in the Falklands when the vote was held.
Eric's result in 1983 was one of the poorer SDP results, coming third with less than 20% of the vote. He disappeared from public life after his defeat.
Eric prided himself on courtesy and was well-liked.
Eric was chairman of the Falkland Islands Association.
Eric was keen on stamp collecting, heraldry and travel.
He died in 1997 shortly after the election result was known, aged 73. One of his last actions was to ask about Shersby's fate. Shersby scraped home but died the day after his friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment