Edith Summerskill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Right Honourable Dr Edith Summerskill The Baroness Summerskill, PC, CH |
|
|
|
|
| In office 28 February 1950 – 26 October 1951 |
|
| Prime Minister | Clement Attlee |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | James Griffiths |
| Succeeded by | Osbert Peake |
|
Member of Parliament
for Fulham West |
|
| In office 1933 – 26 May 1955 |
|
| Preceded by | Cyril Cobb |
| Succeeded by | Constituency Abolished |
|
Member of Parliament
for Warrington |
|
| In office 26 May 1950 – 1961 |
|
| Preceded by | Hyacinth Morgan |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Williams |
|
|
|
| Born | 19 April 1901 |
| Died | 4 February 1980 (aged 78) |
| Political party | Labour |
Edith Clara Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill CH (19 April 1901 – 4 February 1980) was a British physician, feminist, Labour politician and writer.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
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.
[edit] Parliament
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 was included in Clement Attlee's Labour government following the election victory in 1945. She served as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Food, and was later promoted to the Ministry of Social and National Insurance, heading the department she was profiled as the Minister of National insurance, however she was not a cabinet minister.
As well as her service in government, Summerskill also served on the House of Commons Political Honours Scrutiny Committee from 1967 to 1976.
Summerskill served as Parliamentary Secretary to 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 Kenwood in the County of London. Furthermore she was awarded an additional honour being initiated into the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1966.
Summerskill appears in a specially selected list of Fabian Society members from 1942 to 1947, showing continuity and prestige.
[edit] Personal life
Summerskill was married in 1925 to Dr Jeffrey Samuel. Her daughter, Dr Shirley Summerskill, also served as a Member of Parliament and government minister.
[edit] Publications
- Babies without Tears, (1941)
- Wanted--babies: A trenchant examination of a grave national problem, (1943)
- Letters to my Daughter, (1957)
- The Ignoble Art, (1957)
- A Woman’s World: Memoirs, (1967)
[edit] External links
| 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 James Griffiths |
Minister of National Insurance 1950–1951 |
Succeeded by Osbert Peake |
| Preceded by Wilfrid Burke |
Chair of the Labour Party 1954–1955 |
Succeeded by Edwin Gooch |
 |
This article about a Labour Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
