John Parker (UK politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Herbert John Harvey Parker (15 July 190624 November 1987), normally known as John Parker was a long-serving British Labour politician.

He was educated at Marlborough College and St John's College, Oxford, where he was Chair of Oxford University Labour Club. In 1931 he contested the seat of Holland-with-Boston. In 1935 he was elected MP for Romford in Essex, which he represented until 1945; and he subsequently sat for Dagenham (19451983). He was the last serving member of the House of Commons to have been elected before World War II, and with 48 years in Parliament, he remains Labour's longest-serving MP ever.[1]

He was General Secretary of the Fabian Society during World War II, and subsequently its Vice-Chairman and Chairman, and was a junior minister in the Dominions Office 1945-6. In the 48th Parliament of the United Kingdom (1979-1983) he was the Father of the House of Commons.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Stephen Bates (2007-10-05). People. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
William Hutchison
Member of Parliament for Romford
19351945
Succeeded by
Thomas Macpherson
Preceded by
new constituency
Member of Parliament for Dagenham
19451983
Succeeded by
Bryan Gould
Political offices
Preceded by
George Strauss
Father of the House
1979–1983
Succeeded by
James Callaghan