Constituency : Altrincham 1923-4
Robert took Altrincham from the Tories in a straight fight at the second attempt.
Robert was a joiner's son from Upholland. He was educated at Wigan Elementary School and Wigan Technical Mining College. He started work as a sales assistant at a station newsagents then started a business career , first manufacturing sauce and pickles ( his wife's family's business), then running tailors' shops and finally manufacturing woollen clothing.He was elected to Wigan Town Council in 1913. He contested Wigan in 1918, coming a very poor third. He came second at Altrincham in 1922 as an Asquithian.
Robert's maiden speech called for a relaxation of the rules on unemployment insurance to increase purchasing power. He voted with Labour on the Campbell case.
Robert was soundly defeated in 1924 despite the absence of Labour. He became Mayor of Wigan in 1926-27. He fought again in 1929 holding on to second place as Labour re-entered the fray.
Robert received the OBE in 1935.
He died in 1946 aged 72.
No comments:
Post a Comment