Joseph Harper (Labour politician)

Joseph Harper (17 March 1914 – 24 June 1978) was a Labour Party politician in Great Britain.

For other people named Joseph Harper, see Joseph Harper (disambiguation).

Joseph Harper
MP
Member of Parliament
for Pontefract and Castleford
Pontefract (1962–1974)
In office
22 March 1962 – 24 June 1978
Preceded byGeorge Oscar Sylvester
Succeeded byGeoffrey Lofthouse
Personal details
Born(1914-03-17)17 March 1914
Died24 June 1978(1978-06-24) (aged 64)
Political partyLabour
SpouseGwen
Children4

He was elected as the Member of Parliament MP for Pontefract at a by-election in 1962. He was MP for the constituency and then the reformed Pontefract and Castleford constituency until he died in office at the age of 64. Playwright James Graham has attributed Harper's death to his decision to "[delay] emergency surgery in his determination to never miss a vote".[1]

At the by-election held after Harper's death, the seat was held for Labour by Geoffrey Lofthouse.

Harper was from a working-class background working at Ackton Hall Colliery, Featherstone. He lived at 11 Bedford Close, Featherstone with his wife Gwen and youngest daughter Pat. He had a further daughter, Wendy, who also resided on Bedford Close, and two sons Glyn and Graham.

References
  1. A hung parliament? It’ll be the 1970s again, and people will die, by James Graham, in the Guardian; published June 13, 2017; retrieved June 13, 2017


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