Robert Richardson (Labour politician)

Robert Richardson (1 February 1862 – 28 December 1943) was a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.

For other people named Robert Richardson, see Robert Richardson (disambiguation).

Richardson was educated at Ryhope National School before becoming a coal miner in 1871, serving as a checkweighman from 1900.[1] His entry in the Times House of Commons 1919 noted that he had 'worked at all kind of jobs in the pit'.[2] He became active in the Durham Miners' Association, serving on its executive from 1897.[1]

Richardson was elected to Durham County Council in 1901, the Ryhope Board of Guardians in 1904, and also Sunderland Rural District Council in 1904, chairing this from 1910 to 1913.[1] He was elected at the 1918 general election as Member of Parliament for Houghton-le-Spring in County Durham, defeating the sitting Liberal MP Thomas Edward Wing by 689 votes in a close three-way contest.[2] Richardson held the seat until the 1931 general election, when Labour split over budgetary policy and its leader Ramsay MacDonald left the party to form a National Government. His Conservative Party successor Robert Chapman served only one term in Parliament, as Labour regained the seat at the 1935 general election; but Richardson did not stand again after his defeat.

References
  1. Stenton, Michael; Lees, Stephen (1979). Who's Who of British Members of Parliament. Vol. III. Brighton: Harvester Press. pp. 302–303. ISBN 0855273259.
  2. The Times House of Commons 1919. London: The Times Publishing Company (Limited). 1919. p. 51.
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