Constituency : Newton 1906-10 ( Labour ), Stoke-on-Trent Hanley 1918-22 ( NDP ), 1922
James was born in Prescot. He started work as a grocer's apprentice then became a salesman. He became president of the shop workers union, the NAUSAWC in 1902. In 1906 he became MP for Newton under the McDonald-Gladstone pact. He lost his seat in December 1910 and joined the TUC parliamentary committee the following year. He was elected TUC President in 1915. He gravitated towards the British Workers League and resigned from Labour in 1917.In 1918 he stood for Hanley for the NDP defeating Labour, the deselected anti-war Liberal Robert Outhwaite and an alternative Liberal. His majority was 335.
James's last parliamentary speech in 1922 denouncing the duty on entertainments.
In 1922 James was defeated by Labour although the combined Liberal vote was greater than the Labour total.
By 1923 James had joined the Conservatives and re-fought the seat in their colours. He came second again.
In 1925 James founded the Steel House Constructors Union, a housebuilding project. He later joined the Industrial Peace Union of the British Empire.
He died of a heart attack in 1939 aged 71.
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