Wilfred Proudfoot

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(George) Wilfred Proudfoot (born 19 December 1921) is a retired British Conservative Party politician and former Member of Parliament (MP).

He was educated at Crook Council School, County Durham and Scarborough College, and became a grocer and newsagent. The family supermarket remains the largest in Scarborough. Proudfoot stood unsuccesfully for Parliament in Hemsworth at the 1951 general election and in Cleveland at the 1955 election.

He was successful on his third attempt, winning the Cleveland seat from the the Labour MP Arthur Palmer at the 1959 general election. However, at the 1964 election, he was defeated by the Labour candidate James Tinn.[1] Proudfoot stood again at the 1966, but lost by a much wider margin.[2]

At the 1970 general election, he stood in the marginal West Yorkshire constituency of Brighouse and Spenborough, where he ousted the sitting Labour MP Colin Jackson by a majority of only 59 votes.[3] He employed as his Secretary Christine Holman, who was later to marry the politician Neil Hamilton and become famous under her married name.

However, at the February 1974 general election, Jackson won back the seat. Proudfoot stood again at the October 1974 election, but lost again.[4]

[edit] References

• Times Guide to the House of Commons October 1974

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

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Arthur Palmer	Member of Parliament for Cleveland 1959–1964	Succeeded by James Tinn
Preceded by Colin Jackson	Member of Parliament for Brighouse and Spenborough 1970–1974	Succeeded by Colin Jackson