Arthur Holt (politician)
Arthur Holt | |
---|---|
President of the Liberal Party | |
In office 1974–1975 | |
Leader | Jeremy Thorpe |
Preceded by | Rhys Lloyd |
Succeeded by | Margaret Wingfield |
Liberal Chief Whip | |
In office May 1962 – 1963 | |
Leader | Jo Grimond |
Preceded by | Donald Wade |
Succeeded by | Eric Lubbock |
Member of Parliament for Bolton West | |
In office 25 October 1951 – 25 September 1964 | |
Preceded by | John Lewis |
Succeeded by | Gordon Oakes |
Personal details | |
Born | 8 August 1914 Bolton, Lancashire |
Died | 23 August 1995 | (aged 81)
Political party | Liberal Party |
Spouse |
Kathleen Openshaw (m. 1939) |
Children | 2 |
Education | Mill Hill School |
Alma mater | Victoria University of Manchester |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service | British Army |
Years of service | 1938-1945 |
Unit | Loyal Regiment |
Commands | Reconnaissance Corps |
Battles / wars | |
Arthur Frederick Holt (8 August 1914 – 23 August 1995) was a hosiery manufacturer and Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom, and Member of Parliament for thirteen years.
Background
[edit]Holt was born in Bolton. He was educated at Mill Hill School and Victoria University of Manchester.[1] In 1939 he married Kathleen Mary Openshaw, MBE. They had one son and one daughter.[2] He played Rugby for Bolton RUFC.
Professional career
[edit]Holt joined the Loyal Regiment as a Territorial Army officer in 1938[3] and left the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers in 1964. He was company commander in the Reconnaissance Corps and was taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore in 1942.[4] He was twice mentioned in dispatches.
Holt was a hosiery manufacturer. With his two brothers he built up in Bolton an industry new to the town.[5] He was Chairman, Holt Hosiery Co. Ltd, Bolton, 1971–73.[6]
Political career
[edit]Holt was first elected at the 1951 general election, when he defeated the only other candidate in the Bolton West constituency, sitting Labour MP John Lewis. Holt was re-elected in straight contests with Labour at two further general elections. He was Parliamentary Chairman of the Liberal Party from 1952 to 1955. He was a Member of the Parliamentary delegation to Russia in 1954.[7] He was Liberal Chief Whip from 1962 to 1963. His share of the vote was halved when the Conservative Party fielded a candidate at the 1964 general elections, and the seat was won by Labour's Gordon Oakes.[8] He was President of the Liberal Party from 1974 to 1975.
Electoral record
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alfred Booth | 24,826 | 45.48 | n/a | |
Conservative | Philip Bell | 21,117 | 38.68 | n/a | |
Liberal | Arthur Holt | 8,647 | 15.84 | n/a | |
Majority | 3,709 | 6.79 | n/a | ||
Turnout | 54,590 | 87.46 | n/a | ||
Labour win (new seat) |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Arthur Holt | 26,271 | 52.76 | +32.30 | |
Labour | John Lewis | 23,523 | 47.24 | +2.62 | |
Majority | 2,748 | 5.52 | − | ||
Turnout | 49,794 | 84.79 | −2.76 | ||
Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | +17.46 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Arthur Holt | 24,827 | 55.37 | +2.61 | |
Labour | James Haworth | 20,014 | 44.63 | −2.61 | |
Majority | 4,813 | 10.73 | +5.22 | ||
Turnout | 44,841 | 79.05 | − 5.74 | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | +2.61 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Arthur Holt | 23,533 | 54.63 | −0.74 | |
Labour | Peter Cameron | 19,545 | 45.37 | +0.74 | |
Majority | 3,988 | 9.26 | −1.48 | ||
Turnout | 43,078 | 79.72 | +0.65 | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | -0.74 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Gordon Oakes | 16,519 | 41.17 | −4.20 | |
Conservative | Douglas Sisson | 13,522 | 33.70 | + 33.70 | |
Liberal | Arthur Holt | 10,086 | 25.14 | − 29.49 | |
Majority | 2,997 | 7.47 | |||
Turnout | 38,346 | 78.15 | −1.67 | ||
Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | -18.95 |
References
[edit]- ^ The Times House of Commons, 1964
- ^ (2007, December 01). Holt, Arthur Frederick, (8 Aug. 1914–23 Aug. 1995), Chairman, Holt Hosiery Co. Ltd, Bolton, 1971–73. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Ed. Retrieved 12 Apr. 2019, from http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-173192.
- ^ Joyce, Peter; Egan, Mark (1998). Duncan Brack (ed.). Dictionary of Liberal Biography. London: Politico's Publishing. pp. 183–184. ISBN 1902301099.
- ^ The Times House of Commons, 1951
- ^ The Times House of Commons, 1950
- ^ (2007, December 01). Holt, Arthur Frederick, (8 Aug. 1914–23 Aug. 1995), Chairman, Holt Hosiery Co. Ltd, Bolton, 1971–73. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Ed. Retrieved 12 Apr. 2019, from http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-173192.
- ^ The Times House of Commons, 1955
- ^ See 1959 election results Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine and 1964 election results Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine for Bolton West
- ^ General Election 23 February 1950: Bolton East. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ General Election 25 October 1951: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ General Election 26 May 1955: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ General Election 8 October 1959: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ General Election 15 October 1964: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- 1914 births
- 1995 deaths
- Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
- Presidents of the Liberal Party (UK)
- UK MPs 1951–1955
- UK MPs 1955–1959
- UK MPs 1959–1964
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Bolton West
- People educated at Mill Hill School
- Alumni of the Victoria University of Manchester
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Loyal Regiment officers
- British World War II prisoners of war
- Reconnaissance Corps officers
- World War II prisoners of war held by Japan
- Military personnel from Lancashire