Joseph Harper (English politician)
Joseph Harper (17 March 1914 – 24 June 1978) was a Labour Party politician in Great Britain.
Joseph Harper MP | |
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Member of Parliament for Pontefract and Castleford | |
In office 28 February 1974 – 24 June 1978 | |
Preceded by | New constituency |
Succeeded by | Geoffrey Lofthouse |
Member of Parliament for Pontefract | |
In office 22 March 1962 – 28 February 1974 | |
Preceded by | George Oscar Sylvester |
Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | 17 March 1914 |
Died | 24 June 1978 64) | (aged
Political party | Labour |
Spouse(s) | Gwen |
Children | 4 |
He was elected as the Member of Parliament MP for Pontefract at a by-election in 1962. He was MP for the constituency and then the reformed Pontefract and Castleford constituency until he died in office at the age of 64. Playwright James Graham has attributed Harper's death to his decision to "[delay] emergency surgery in his determination to never miss a vote".[1]
At the by-election held after Harper's death, the seat was held for Labour by Geoffrey Lofthouse.
Harper was from a working-class background working at Ackton Hall Colliery, Featherstone. He lived at 11 Bedford Close, Featherstone with his wife Gwen and youngest daughter Pat. He had a further daughter, Wendy, who also resided on Bedford Close, and two sons Glyn and Graham.
References
- A hung parliament? It’ll be the 1970s again, and people will die, by James Graham, in the Guardian; published June 13, 2017; retrieved June 13, 2017
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Joseph Harper
Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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Preceded by George Oscar Sylvester |
Member of Parliament for Pontefract 1962–Feb 1974 |
Constituency abolished |
New constituency | Member of Parliament for Pontefract and Castleford Feb 1974–1978 |
Succeeded by Geoffrey Lofthouse |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Walter Clegg |
Comptroller of the Household 1974–1978 |
Succeeded by James Hamilton |