Andrew Cunningham
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- For the British naval commander, see Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
Andrew 'Andy' Cunningham was a major political figure in North East England, brought down by, and jailed for his role in, the Poulson scandal of 1974, which also destroyed the careers of T. Dan Smith and Tory Home Secretary, Reginald Maudling.
At the height of his career in 1971 he held the following positions:
- Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party
- Chairman of the Chester-le-Street and the Northern Region Executive of the Labour Party
- Head of the Northern Region of the General and Municipal Workers Union (GMWU) (the biggest union in the north-east)
- Alderman of Durham County Council
- Member of the Chester-le-Street town council
- Chairman of Durham Police Authority
- Chairman of Newcastle Airport Consultative Committee
- Member of the Northumbrian River Authority
- Member of the Peterlee New Town Development Corporation
- Member of the Tyneside Passenger Transport Authority
His role with the GMWU in particular gave him considerable influence, via the Trade Union block vote, in the selection of Labour Party parliamentary candidates.
He was the father of Labour politician Jack Cunningham
