Albert Oram, Baron Oram

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Albert Edward Oram, Baron Oram, (13 August 1913 – 5 September 1999), was a Co-operative and Labour politician in the United Kingdom.

Bert Oram was educated at Brighton Grammar School and the University of London. He became a teacher. In the Second World War he was initially recognised as a conscientious objector, but voluntarily renounced his exemption to join the army. He served in the Royal Artillery and landed in Normandy on D-Day, continuing on the campaign into Germany.^[1] After the war he briefly returned to teaching before moving in 1946 to work for the Co-operative Party as Research Officer. He advocated consumer welfare and democratising industrial relations, writing a series of publications including The People's Industry.^[1]

Oram attempted to win the parliamentary seat of Billericay but lost despite winning 19,437 votes.^[1] He served as Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for East Ham South from 1955 to February 1974. He was Parliamentary Secretary for Development 1964 to 1969 under Barbara Castle, and a Government Whip 1976 to 1978 in the House of Lords.

Oram was greatly interested in aiding development throughout the world, he was a European enthusiast and opponent to nuclear weapons. He became co-ordinator of the development programmes of the Co-operative Alliance in 1971 and held this office until 1973. He was a member of the Commonwealth Development Corporation in the years 1975 and 1976, and was made Chairman of the Co-operative Development Agency from 1978 to 1981.

On 22 January 1976, he was created Baron Oram, of Brighton in the County of East Sussex.

[edit] References

• Catalogue of Baron Oram's papers at LSE Archives

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Alfred John Barnes	Member of Parliament for East Ham South 1955–February 1974	Succeeded by (constituency abolished)