Edward Short, Baron Glenamara
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| The Right Honourable, Edward Watson Short Baron Glenamara PC |
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| In office 16 October 1964 – 4 July 1966 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Martin Redmayne |
| Succeeded by | John Silkin |
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| In office 4 July 1966 – 6 April 1968 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Tony Benn |
| Succeeded by | Roy Mason |
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| In office 6 April 1968 – 20 June 1970 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Patrick Gordon Walker |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Thatcher |
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| In office 5 March 1974 – 10 September 1976 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | Jim Prior |
| Succeeded by | Michael Foot |
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| Born | 17 December 1912 Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom |
| Political party | Labour |
Edward Watson Short, Baron Glenamara, CH, PC (born 17 December 1912) is a former Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Newcastle upon Tyne Central in the United Kingdom. He was a minister during the Labour Governments of Harold Wilson. He is currently the oldest member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Short was elected a councillor on Newcastle City Council where he led the Labour Group. He was first elected to Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central at the 1951 general election. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1964, and is also a Companion of Honour.
He became a notorious figure among fans of offshore radio because he was Postmaster-General (then the minister with responsibility for broadcasting) in 1967 when the Marine etc. Broadcasting and Offences Act, which clamped down on the "pirate" stations, was passed.
He subsequently served as Education Secretary 1968–70, and became Labour's deputy leader in April 1972 when Roy Jenkins resigned over differences on European policy. Short was seen at the time as a "safe pair of hands." His main rival for the job was the left-winger Michael Foot who was viewed by many on the centre and right of the party as a divisive figure. Short defeated Foot and Anthony Crosland in the same vote.
Short's new seniority was reflected in his appointment as Lord President of the Council – though not Deputy Prime Minister – 1974–76, but he did not have the stature to mount a leadership bid himself on Wilson's retirement. He was not offered a Cabinet post on James Callaghan's election as Premier. His resignation letter said that the time had come for him to step aside for a younger man; this expressed in sarcasm, as he was replaced by Michael Foot, who is seven months younger than himself. He refused to resign as Labour's deputy leader until he was made a life peer as Baron Glenamara, of Glenridding in the County of Cumbria on 28 January 1977, when he left the Commons. One year before, he was appointed Chairman of Cable and Wireless Ltd, which was at the time a nationalised industry. He served in that post until 1980.
As a life peer he is still a member of the House of Lords, although he stopped attending regularly a few years ago.
His name lives on in the House of Commons with the term "Short Money". This refers to funds paid by the Government to help run the Parliamentary office of the Leader of the Opposition. The then Mr Short pioneered this idea during his time in the House.
He was made a Freeman of the City of Newcastle in 2001 "in recognition of his eminent and outstanding public service as former Member of Newcastle City Council, former MP for Newcastle Central Constituency, former Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Deputy Prime Minister and currently Chancellor of the University of Northumbria at Newcastle." He retired from this Chancellorship in 2005.
It has been suggested that the British secret services set up a fake bank account in Short's name in 1974, designed specifically to create the impression that he was corrupt. This has never been officially confirmed or denied.[citation needed] See also Harold Wilson conspiracy theories.
[edit] References
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page
- Debrett's People of Today 2006
- Who's Who 2006
- Times Guide to the House of Commons October 1974
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by Lyall Wilkes |
Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central 1951–1976 |
Succeeded by Harry Cowans |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Martin Redmayne |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury 1964–1966 |
Succeeded by John Silkin |
| Preceded by Tony Benn |
Postmaster General 1966–1968 |
Succeeded by Roy Mason |
| Preceded by Patrick Gordon Walker |
Secretary of State for Education and Science 1968–1970 |
Succeeded by Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by Roy Jenkins |
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party 1972–1976 |
Succeeded by Michael Foot |
| Preceded by James Prior |
Lord President of the Council 1974–1976 |
Succeeded by Michael Foot |
| Leader of the House of Commons 1974–1976 |
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| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by None |
Chancellor of Northumbria University Creation–2005 |
Succeeded by The Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington |
