Constituency : Mile End 1906-10
In a re-run of their by-election contest of a year earlier, Bertram defeated the Liberal Unionist Harry Levy-Lawson.
Bertram was the son of a Jewish colonial merchant based in Manchester. He was educated at Harrow then worked for a firm of colonial merchants eventually becoming a partner. He later became chairman of a firm making vitamin preparations. He became a Progressive councillor in 1898. In 1895, Bertram stood for Marylebone West and in 1900, Tower Hamlets St George's.Although Levy-Lawson was himself part-Jewish he took a stronger line on anti-immigration which helped him win the seat in 1905.
Bertram became the leading spokesman for Jewish interests in the Commons but rejected the notion of a formal organisation of Jewish MPs "as the Jewish members must remember that they represented their constituents and not their co-religionists".
Bertram introduced the Traffic Bill regulating speed in built-up areas.
In January 1910 Levy-Lawson regained the seat by 57 votes. In December Bertram failed to regain it by just 6 votes.
In 1916 Levy-Lawson inherited a peerage. Bertram gave his support to the Unionist candidate , who had scrupulously observed the political truce at Liberal-held Newington West, against the gung-ho independent Pemberton Billing.
He died in 1933 aged 66.
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