John Gallacher

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John Gallacher, Baron Gallacher (7 May 1920, Alexandria, Dunbartonshire–4 January 2004, Kent) was a British co-operative official and politician.

Gallacher was educated at St Patrick’s High School, Dumbarton and worked for Vale of Leven Co-operative Society before World War II. He served in the Royal Air Force then joined the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (SCWS) in Dumbarton as a trainee in Glasgow.^[1] In 1949, he was sent on a SCWS scholarship to the Co-operative College in Loughborough for two years and gained a Co-operative Secretary's Diploma (CSD).^[2] He went on to work as assistant educational secretary at the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society in South London, and then moved to be education secretary with the Enfield Highway Co-operative Society.^[1] He was then the Southern Sectional Secretary of the Co-operative Union, leaving for a short while to be labour advisor to the Motor Agents' Association before returning to the Union.^[2] After joining the International Co-operative Alliance as Administrative Officer he became Parliamentary Secretary to the Co-operative Union in 1973, gaining profile and parliamentary support for the movement.^[1]

Gallacher was created Baron Gallacher, of Enfield in Greater London on 28 March 1983, on the recommendation of Lord Jacques. He sat as a Labour Co-operative peer and from 1985 to 1992, he served as a Labour whip in the House of Lords. He spoke with authority on European matters.^[1] In addition, he was for a period President of the Institute of Meat.^[2]