Robert Edwards (politician)

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Robert Edwards (6 January 1906 – 4 June 1990) was a British trade unionist and an Independent Labour Party (ILP) and Labour Co-operative politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1955 to 1983.

Edwards was a leading member of the ILP after it split from the Labour in the 1930 and 1940s, serving as the party's Chairman from 1943 to 1948.

During the Spanish Civil War, he served with the ILP Contingent and the Republicans. Between 1947 and 1971 he was the General Secretary of the Chemical Workers' Union, and was also a member of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

As an ILP candidate, Edwards unsuccesfully contested Chorley at the 1935 general election, and Stretford at a by-election in 1939 and the Newport by-election in 1945 (where he won 45.5% of the votes).

He was elected as Labour Co-operative MP for Bilston in the 1955 general election. The constituency was abolished in 1974, so in the February 1974 election, he stood successfully for Wolverhampton South East which covers a similar area. In 1983, he became the oldest sitting British MP.

Edwards stood down in 1987 and was succeeded by Dennis Turner. The former Labour Party leader Michael Foot became the oldest sitting British MP after Edwards' retirement.

[edit] References

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

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Will Nally	Member of Parliament for Bilston 1955–1974	Succeeded by (constituency abolished)
Preceded by (new constituency)	Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton South East 1974–1983	Succeeded by Dennis Turner
Political offices
Preceded by John McGovern	Chairman of the Independent Labour Party 1943–1948	Succeeded by David Gibson