William Sampson Cluse (20 December 1875 – 8 September 1955) was aBritishLabour Party politician.[1][2]
Born inIslington, he was orphaned at the age of five, by the time he was eleven Cluse was working part-time. At the age of fifteen he wasapprenticed to the printing trade.[2] In 1900 he entered politics, joining theSocial Democratic Federation.
During theFirst World War he served in theRoyal Army Medical Corps. Following the war he entered local government when he was elected toIslington Borough Council as a Labour Party councillor representingTollington ward in 1919.[3] At the 1922 municipal elections he was elected to the council again, this time as a representative of St Peter's Ward.[4][2]
At the1923 general election he was electedMember of Parliament forIslington South. Re-elected twice, he lost his seat at the1931 general election. He regained the seat in1935, retiring from parliament at the1950 general election.[1][2][5] He held a minor post in thewar-time coalition government asParliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Transport and then to theMinister of Aircraft Production.[2]
On 17 December 1942,Anthony Eden, the foreign secretary, gave the first formal news of theHolocaust to the House of Commons. Cluse, an infrequent speaker, suggested that members "rise in their places" to observe a minute of silent protest. They did.[6]
He married Alice Louise Warner in 1902 and the couple had two children.[2]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forIslington South 1923–1931 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forIslington South 1935–1950 | Succeeded by Constituency abolished |
| Media offices | ||
| Preceded by | Editor of theSocial Democrat 1931–1933 | Succeeded by Publication closed |