Arthur Skeffington

For the American optometrist also named Arthur, see A. M. Skeffington.
Arthur Skeffington
Member of Parliament
for Hayes and Harlington
In office
1 April 1953 – 18 February 1971
Preceded byWalter Ayles
Succeeded byNeville Sandelson
Member of Parliament
for Lewisham West
In office
5 July 1945 – 3 February 1950
Preceded byHenry Brooke
Succeeded byHenry Price
Personal details
Born(1909-09-04)4 September 1909
Died18 February 1971(1971-02-18) (aged 61)
London, England
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour
Children2
EducationStreatham Grammar School
Alma materUniversity of London (BSc)

Arthur Massey Skeffington (4 September 1909 – 18 February 1971) was a British Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for 23 years from 1945 until his death in 1971.[1][2]

Early life

Educated at Streatham Grammar School and the University of London, Skeffington graduated with a BSc in Economics.[1][2] He lectured in economics, was a member of the Fabian Society and was elected to the National Executive of the Labour Party.[1]

At the 1935 general election he unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary seat of Streatham. He also failed to be elected when a by-election was held at Lewisham West in 1938.[1]

During the Second World War he worked for the Board of Trade on concentration of industry and for the Ministry of Supply on the production of medical supplies.[1]

Parliamentary career

Skeffington was elected at the 1945 general election as MP for Lewisham West, but lost his seat at the 1950 general election.

In 1950 he was elected to the London County Council to represent Peckham, holding the seat until 1958.[1][3] he was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1951.[2]

Skeffington successfully contested the Hayes and Harlington by-election in 1953, which he won, thereby being returned to Parliament.[4] He served as MP for that constituency in the House of Commons until his death.[2]

From 1967 to 1970, he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Housing and Local Government. Skeffington was also Chairman of Labour's National Executive Committee from 1969 to 1970.[1]

Personal life and death

Skeffington was married and had two children.[5] A keen cricketer, he played cricket for Surrey 2nd XI.[2]

Skeffington died at Royal Marsden Hospital in London on 18 February 1971, at the age of 61.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "SKEFFINGTON, Arthur Massey". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. December 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Mr Arthur Skeffington Former chairman of the Labour Party". The Times. 20 February 1971. p. 14.
  3. ^ Jackson, W Eric (1965). Achievement. A Short History of the London County Council. London: Longmans. p. 280.
  4. ^ "Hayes and Harlington Held by Labour". The Times. 2 April 1953. p. 8.
  5. ^ a b "Arthur Skeffington, MP, dies". The Birmingham Post. 20 February 1971. p. 25. Retrieved 13 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

Sources

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Lewisham West
1945–1950 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hayes and Harlington
1953–1971 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Socialist societies representative on the Labour Party National Executive Committee
1953–1958 		Succeeded by
Tom Agar
Preceded by
Tom Agar
 Socialist societies representative on the Labour Party National Executive Committee
1959–1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Fabian Society
1956–1957 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Labour Party
1969–1970 		Succeeded by