Edith Summerskill

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Edith Clara Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill CH (19 April 1901 – 4 February 1980) was a British physician, feminist, Labour politician and writer.

Summerskill was educated at King's College London and trained as a doctor at Charing Cross Hospital. She was one of the founders of the Socialist Health Association which spearheaded the National Health Service (1948). She pressed for equal rights for women in the British Home Guard. In 1938 she initiated the Married Women's Association to promote equality in marriage and became its first president.

Summerskill served as a councillor on Middlesex County Council from 1934 until 1941. She stood for a seat in the House of Commons unsuccessfully in Putney in 1934 and Bury in 1935, before becoming Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Fulham West thanks to the working women's vote. She caused some disquiet by taking the seat in her maiden name. When the Fulham West constituency was abolished for the 1955 general election, she was returned to the House of Commons as MP for Warrington.

Summerskill served as a junior minister in the Ministry of Food (1945-50) and as Minister of National Insurance (1950-51). She was a member of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee from 1944 to 1958 and served as Chair of the Labour Party 1954-5). She left the House of Commons in 1961 and was made a life peer as Baroness Summerskill, of Kew Wood in the County of London.

Summerskill appears in a specially selected list of Fabian Society members from 1942 to 1947, showing continuity and prestige.

Summerskill appears among specially selected names of Fabian Society

Summerskill was married in 1925 to Dr Jeffrey Samuel. Her daughter, Shirley Summerskill, also served as a Member of Parliament and government minister.

[edit] References

This page incorporates information from Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir Cyril Cobb	Member of Parliament for Fulham West 1938–1955	Succeeded by (constituency abolished) Succssor constituency: Fulham
Preceded by Dr Hyacinth Morgan	Member of Parliament for Warrington 1955–1961	Succeeded by Sir William Thomas Williams
Political offices
Preceded by Wilfrid Burke	Chair of the Labour Party 1954–1955	Succeeded by Edwin Gooch