Stanley Orme, Baron Orme

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Stanley Orme, Baron Orme (5 April 1923 – 27 April 2005) was a British Labour Party politician.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Private life 4 References

[edit] Early life

Stan Orme was born in Sale, Cheshire. He was educated at a technical school, which he left in 1938 to become an instrument maker's apprentice. He joined the RAF in 1942, becoming a bomber-navigator, serving in Canada and Egypt. He was demobilised in 1947 as a warrant officer.

[edit] Political career

Orme joined the Labour Party in 1944 and he became a Sale borough councillor in 1958. A committed Bevanite, he embraced many left-wing causes, including the Movement for Colonial Freedom and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

He first stood for Parliament at Stockport South in 1959, when he lost to the Conservative candidate. He was elected to serve Salford West in 1964. He was installed at Stormont as Minister of State for Northern Ireland following the February 1974 General Election. He made an impression in this role, before moving to the Department of Health and Social Security in March 1976. The Prime Minister James Callaghan promoted him to the Cabinet in September 1976 to sit alongside his departmental boss David Ennals. He remained in this role until 1979.

Orme joined the 1980 Shadow Cabinet as chief health and social security spokesman, before later moving onto hold the Industry and Energy portfolios until 1987. In 1983 he won the redrawn seat of Salford East. He served as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party (1987-1992). He retired from the Commons in 1997, when he was awarded a life peerage as Baron Orme, of Salford in the County of Greater Manchester.

Orme made several unsuccessful attempts to be elected to Labour's National Executive Committee, without breaking through.

His passing was marked at Dunham Crematorium by many family, friends and political colleagues. A memorial service was held in the House of Lords, with speeches from Neil Kinnock and Michael Foot. A very rare exception was made by the Speaker such that any Divisions were suspended during this evening service.

[edit] Private life

He married Irene Mary Harris in 1951. There were no children.

[edit] References

• "Lord Orme of Salford", The Guardian, May 3, 2005.
• Times Guide to the House of Commons, Times Newspapers Limited, 1992
• Obituary, The Times obituaries.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by: Frank Allaun	Member of Parliament for Salford West 1964–1983	Succeeded by: constituency abolished (see Salford East)
Preceded by: Charles Royle	Member of Parliament for Salford East 1983–1997	Succeeded by: constituency abolished (see Salford)