George Wadsworth (politician)

For the United States diplomat, see George Wadsworth (diplomat).

George Wadsworth (10 December 1902 – 18 April 1979) was a businessman and Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom. He owned his own companies and sat for an East Yorkshire constituency.

Background

Wadsworth was a son of Arnold Holroyd Wadsworth, of Halifax. He was educated at Heath Grammar School, Halifax and Willaston College, Nantwich. In 1930 he married Guinivere Shepherd and together they had two daughters. Shirley the eldest daughter was drowned in a tragic accident off the coast of North Wales

Business career

Wadsworth was managing director of G Wadsworth & Sons Ltd, Wadsworth White Lead Co., Ltd and of G. Wadsworth and Son, Ltd. He was the founder Chairman of Halifax Round Table.[1]

Political career

Wadsworth was a Liberal member of Halifax Town Council.[2] He served from 1938-45. He was Vice-Chairman of Halifax Watch, Safety First, Lighting Committee.[3]

At the 1945 general election, Wadsworth was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the East Riding of Yorkshire constituency of Buckrose. He gained the seat from the Conservatives by a majority of 949 votes, benefiting from the absence of a Labour candidate.

In the House of Commons, he served on the Public Accounts Select Committee from 1945-49. He was a member of parliamentary delegations to Hungary, Switzerland and Italy. In 1949 he attended the European military exercises in Germany as a Parliamentary observer.[4]

At the 1950 election, following boundary changes, Wadsworth contested the re-drawn seat of Bridlington. This time he had a Labour opponent as well as a Conservative. The Conservative comfortably won the seat.

Wadsworth contested the Sheffield Hillsborough constituency in the 1951 general election as a National Liberal candidate but failed to take the seat from Labour.

Election Results

General Election 1945: Buckrose
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal George Wadsworth 15,934 51.5 +6.6
Conservative Sir Albert Newby Braithwaite 14,985 48.5 -6.6
Majority 949 3.1 13.2
Turnout 71.9 -6.5
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +6.6
General Election 1950: Bridlington
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Hon. Richard Frederick Wood 26,124 50.9 n/a
Liberal George Wadsworth 16,158 31.5 n/a
Labour Wilfrid Pashby 9,013 17.6 n/a
Majority 9,966 19.4 n/a
Turnout 81.9 n/a
Conservative hold Swing n/a
General Election 1951: Sheffield Hillsborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Co-op George Darling 28,274 59.0 +0.3
National Liberal George Wadsworth 19,617 41.0 +1.2
Majority 8,657 18.0 -0.9
Turnout 84.9 -2.2
Labour Co-op hold Swing -0.5

References

  1. ↑ Who's Who
  2. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1951
  3. ↑ Who's Who
  4. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1950

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Albert Braithwaite		 Member of Parliament for Buckrose
1945–1950 		Constituency abolished


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