Frederick Willey

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Frederick Thomas Willey (13 November 1910—13 December 1987) was a British Labour politician.

Willey was educated at Johnston School and St. John's College, Cambridge, and was called to the Bar in 1936. He worked as a barrister on the Northern circuit. His political career began in the 1930s as an activist for social justice and other left wing causes: he was the keynote speaker welcoming returning International Brigade volunteers to Sunderland.

During World War II, Willey served with the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) and was an officer of the Fire Brigades Union.

Willey was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Sunderland in 1945, when the Borough still sent two MPs to Parliament.

In 1950, two-member constituencies were abolished and Willey was returned for the new constituency of Sunderland North where he served until he retired at the 1983 general election.

Not confined to the backbenches, Willey served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food in 1950-51 and as Minister of Land and Natural Resources, and in the latter capacity opened the UK's first long-distance footpath, the Pennine Way, in 1965.

He served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party from 1979-81.

[edit] References

• (1945) The Times House of Commons 1945. The Times. 
• (1950) The Times House of Commons 1950. The Times. 
• (1955) The Times House of Commons 1955. The Times. 

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Samuel Storey and Stephen Furness	Member of Parliament for Sunderland with Richard Ewart 1945–1950	Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Preceded by New constituency	Member of Parliament for Sunderland North 1950–1983	Succeeded by Bob Clay
Political offices
Preceded by Cledwyn Hughes	Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party 1979–1981	Succeeded by Jack Dormand