Edward Short, Baron Glenamara
Edward Watson Short, Baron Glenamara CH PC (17 December 1912 – 4 May 2012) was a British Labour politician. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and served as a minister during the Labour Governments of Harold Wilson. Following the death of James Allason on 16 June 2011, Short was the oldest living former member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. He died just under a year later, aged 99. At the time of his death he was the oldest member of the House of Lords.[1]
Early career
Short was educated at College of the Venerable Bede, Durham University. He did military service as a Captain in the Durham Light Infantry of the British Army during the Second World War.[2]
Short was elected a councillor on Newcastle City Council where he led the Labour Group. He was first elected to Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central at the 1951 general election. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1964, and was made a Companion of Honour in 1976.[3]
Postmaster General
Short was responsible for the outlawing of pirate radio stations such as Radio Caroline. Following the government campaign against the pirates previously led by Tony Benn, his predecessor in the post of Postmaster-General (then the minister with responsibility for broadcasting), Short was responsible for introducing the bill[4] which became the Marine etc. Broadcasting and Offences Act in 1967. In a 1982 interview for BBC Radio's The Story of Pop Radio, Short admitted having enjoyed listening to some of those stations, particularly Radio 390.
As Postmaster General, Short ordered the creation of the 1966 England Winners stamp to celebrate England's victory in the 1966 World Cup.
Education Secretary
He subsequently served as Education Secretary 1968–70, and became Labour's deputy leader on 25 April 1972 after Roy Jenkins resigned over differences on European policy.[5] Short was seen at the time as a "safe pair of hands." His main rival for the job was the left-winger Michael Foot who was viewed by many on the centre and right of the party as a divisive figure. Short defeated Foot and Anthony Crosland in the same vote.
Lord President of the Council
Short's new seniority was reflected in his appointment as Lord President of the Council – though not Deputy Prime Minister – 1974–76, but he did not have the stature to mount a leadership bid himself on Wilson's retirement. He was not offered a Cabinet post on James Callaghan's election as Premier. His resignation letter said that the time had come for him to step aside for a younger man; this was sarcasm, as he was replaced by Michael Foot, who was only seven months younger than himself. Short was also nine months younger than Callaghan, who had dropped him from the cabinet.
Peerage
He was made a life peer as Baron Glenamara, of Glenridding in the County of Cumbria on 28 January 1977,[6] when he left the Commons. One year before, he was appointed Chairman of Cable and Wireless Ltd, which was at the time a nationalised industry. He served in that post until 1980.
As a life peer he was a member of the House of Lords, although he stopped attending regularly a few years before his death.
His name lives on in the House of Commons with the term "Short Money". This refers to funds paid by the Government to help run the Parliamentary office of the Leader of the Opposition. The then Mr Short pioneered this idea during his time in the House.
He was made a Freeman of the City of Newcastle in 2001 "in recognition of his eminent and outstanding public service" and served as Chancellor of the University of Northumbria, a post he retired from in 2005.
References
- ↑ "Lord Glenamara of Glenridding, 1912–2012 – Northumbria University, Newcastle UK". Northumbria.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ↑ "Lord Glenamara obituary". Guardian. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 46916. p. 7823. 1 June 1976.
- ↑ "Marine, & C., Broadxasting (OffencesFFENCES)", HC Deb 27 July 1966, Hansard, vol 732 c1720
- ↑ "Unity call as Short wins by 29 votes". The Glasgow Herald. 26 April 1972. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 47138. p. 1427. 1 February 1977.
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
- Debrett's People of Today 2006
- Who's Who 2006
- Times Guide to the House of Commons October 1974
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Edward Short
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lyall Wilkes |
Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central 1951–1976 |
Succeeded by Harry Cowans |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Herbert Bowden |
Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons 1964–1966 |
Succeeded by John Silkin |
| Preceded by Martin Redmayne |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury 1964–1966 | |
| Preceded by Tony Benn |
Postmaster General 1966–1968 |
Succeeded by Roy Mason |
| Preceded by Patrick Gordon Walker |
Secretary of State for Education and Science 1968–1970 |
Succeeded by Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by James Prior |
Leader of the House of Commons 1974–1976 |
Succeeded by Michael Foot |
| Lord President of the Council 1974–1976 | ||
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Roy Jenkins |
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party 1972–1976 |
Succeeded by Michael Foot |
| Academic offices | ||
| New office | Chancellor of Northumbria University 1992–2005 |
Succeeded by The Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington |
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