Albert Booth | |
|---|---|
| Shadow Secretary of State for Transport | |
| In office 14 July 1979 – 9 June 1983 | |
| Leader | James Callaghan Michael Foot |
| Preceded by | Norman Fowler |
| Succeeded by | John Prescott |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Employment | |
| In office 4 May 1979 – 14 July 1979 | |
| Leader | James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | James Prior |
| Succeeded by | Eric Varley |
| Secretary of State for Employment | |
| In office 8 April 1976 – 4 May 1979 | |
| Prime Minister | James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | Michael Foot |
| Succeeded by | James Prior |
| Minister of State for Employment | |
| In office 5 March 1974 – 8 April 1976 | |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Robin Chichester-Clark |
| Succeeded by | Harold Walker |
| Member of Parliament forBarrow-in-Furness | |
| In office 31 March 1966 – 13 May 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Monslow |
| Succeeded by | Cecil Franks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1928-05-28)28 May 1928 Acomb, England |
| Died | 6 February 2010(2010-02-06) (aged 81) London, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | Northumbria University |
Albert Edward Booth (28 May 1928 – 6 February 2010)[1] was a British left-wing[2]Labour Party politician and cabinet minister.
Booth was born inAcomb, in theNorth Riding of Yorkshire, in 1928.[3] He was raised inHampshire andSouth Shields, and educated at Marine School,South Shields, and Rutherford College of Technology (nowNorthumbria University).[3] He was a design draughtsman. He served as a councillor onTynemouth Council 1962–65.
Booth unsuccessfully contestedTynemouth in 1964, losing to the sitting MPIrene Ward.[3] He wasMember of Parliament forBarrow-in-Furness from 1966 to 1983, and wasSecretary of State for Employment from 1976 to 1979 serving underJames Callaghan.[3] He also acted as the Labour Party'snational Treasurer between 1983 and 1984.
After boundary changes, his seat was renamedBarrow and Furness, for the1983 General Election but despite a 1979 majority of 7,741 he lost it to theConservativeCecil Franks. This has often been attributed to Labour'sunilateralist policy of nuclear disarmament, and Booth himself identified with that, leading aCND march through his constituency. However, his constituents were reliant on the defence industries, particularly shipbuilding, and this led to one of Labour's most unexpected defeats of the election.[2][4] However, a campaign against him centred in a localCatholic church, highlighting his record of voting in favour of women's right to choose to have an abortion, was also a significant factor.[citation needed] (Booth was a lay preacher in the Methodist Church.)[1]
Booth made it through to the final round in the Labour selection forSunderland South ahead of the1987 election, but lost out by four votes toChris Mullin.[5] He unsuccessfully contestedWarrington South in1987.[3]
In 1957, Booth married Joan Atkinson (née Amis); they had three sons and were married until her death in 2008.[3]
Booth died at thePrincess Royal University Hospital inLocksbottom, London, on 6 February 2010, at the age of 81; his health had been in decline due to a series of illnesses, includingprostate cancer.[3]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBarrow-in-Furness 1966–1983 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Secretary of State for Employment 1976–1979 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Treasurer of the Labour Party 1983–1984 | Succeeded by |
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