| Peter Griffiths | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 1964–1966 |
|
| Succeeded by | Andrew Faulds |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 24, 1928 United Kingdom |
| Citizenship | British |
| Political party | Conservative Party (1964–1966) |
| Residence | United Kingdom |
Peter Harry Steve Griffiths (born 24 May 1928) is a retired English Conservative Party politician. He is best known for controversially gaining the Smethwick seat in the 1964 general election against the national trend.
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Griffiths attended West Bromwich Grammar School, Leeds Teacher Training College and London and Birmingham Universities before entering a teaching career. In 1955 he was elected to Smethwick Borough Council.[1]
He served as a councillor until 1963 when he resigned to fight the Smethwick parliamentary seat in the forthcoming general election against the sitting Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Gordon Walker. Labour were expected to win the 1964 election, and Gordon Walker was Foreign Secretary designate. Smethwick had been a focus of immigration from the Commonwealth during the years of economic and industrial growth following World War II. It was perhaps for these reasons that race and nationality featured prominently in what became an increasingly ill-tempered local election campaign in 1964.
In criticism of both government and opposition immigration policy, Griffiths ran an anti-immigration campaign, benefiting from the infamous slogan "If you want a nigger for a neighbour, vote Labour".[2][3] It is a common misconception that this was Griffith's campaign slogan. In fact, posters with the racist slogan were erected around the area, although it is unclear as to who was responsible for them. His defeat of Gordon Walker shocked the establishment; Harold Wilson stated in the House of Commons that Griffiths should "serve his term here as a parliamentary leper".[4] Griffiths wrote his own account of the election in 1966.[5][6]
Griffiths was in turn defeated by Labour candidate Andrew Faulds in the 1966 general election[7] and returned to a career in education.[1] He unsuccessfully fought the Portsmouth North constituency in February 1974 general election, but did not stand in the October 1974 election. However, he stood again at the 1979 general election, defeating the sitting Labour MP Frank Judd. He held the seat until the Labour landslide at the 1997 election.[1]
He is married to Jeannette, née Rubery, and they have one son and one daughter.[1]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Patrick Gordon Walker |
Member of Parliament for Smethwick 1964–1966 |
Succeeded by Andrew Faulds |
| Preceded by Frank Judd |
Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North 1979–1997 |
Succeeded by Syd Rapson |