Alfred Dobbs

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Not to confused with Alfred Dubs, a Labour MP from 1979 to 1987

Alfred James Dobbs (1882 – 27 July 1945) was a British Labour Party politician and trade unionist. He is most notable for being the Member of Parliament (MP) who served the shortest term — just one day.

Dobbs was born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. He served as a Rushden Urban District Councillor between 1906-10 and a Leeds City Councillor from 1923 to 1929, then as Alderman in Leeds 1929-36. Dobbs was Leader of Labour Group on Leeds City Council between 1931-36 as well as a magistrate.

Dobbs worked as National Organiser for the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives 1936-45. He was well-known at senior levels of the Labour Party, a member of the National Executive Committee 1936-45 and Chair of the Labour Party 1942-43.

Dobbs stood for Parliament on several occasions, in Altrincham at the 1929 general election and in Leeds North East at the 1931 and 1935 general elections.

He was elected as MP for Smethwick in the Labour landslide of 1945. Tragically, however, having been elected on 26 July 1945, Dobbs was killed in a car accident the very next day, 27 July 1945. Although there have been occasions when MPs were elected posthumously, Dobbs has the dubious honour of having served the shortest term since World War II.

He was followed as MP for Smethwick by Patrick Gordon Walker. The MP with the shortest term after Dobbs was hunger striker Bobby Sands.

[edit] References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Alfred Wise		 Member of Parliament for Smethwick
1945–1945		 Succeeded by
Patrick Gordon Walker
Persondata
NAME Dobbs, Alfred James
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION British Labour Party politician and trade unionist, MP for Smethwick for one day in 1945
DATE OF BIRTH 1882
PLACE OF BIRTH Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
DATE OF DEATH 27 July 1945
PLACE OF DEATH
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