Arthur Leonard Bateman
Encyclopedia
Arthur Leonard Bateman was a British
businessman and Conservative Party
politician.
Born in London, he was privately educated before entering business as a sack manufacturer. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
and a Freeman of the City of London. He became involved in local politics as a mameber of the Conservative-backed Municipal Reform Party
. He was elected to Camberwell Borough Council
in 1922 and was the mayor
of Camberwell in 1929-1930. In 1931 he was elected to represent Peckham
on the London County Council
.
At the 1931 general election
he was chosen to contest the seat of Camberwell North
on behalf of the Conservatives. The election had been called following the formation of a National Government. This had caused a split in the Labour Party
with the majority opposing the coalition. Among these were Charles Ammon
, sitting MP for Camberwell North. Bateman was the government candidate, with the Liberal Party
stepping aside from the contest. Bateman was elected, overturning a Labour majority of 7,823 to win by 765 votes.
Bateman proved to be a controversial member of parliament. In April 1932 the North Camberwell Liberal and Radical Association organised protests calling for his resignation. The Liberals claimed he had broken his election pledges and voted to support taxes on food. Bateman countered that his loyalty was not to the voters but to the National Government and that he would not resign. By the time the next election was called in 1935
Bateman had made it clear that he no longer wished to represent North Camberwell as the constituency had shown him "no gratitude". He stated that in.. "some parts of North Camberwell I have had to have as many as fifty policemen to get me out of meetings. I will not risk my life any longer." He initially hoped that the Conservative Party would find another constituency for him to contest. When this did not occur he decided to stand as an independent in the neighbouring seat of Peckham
, although he withdrew his candidacy prior to the election.
In 1942 Bateman moved to Warwick
, where he was to be a member of the borough council. By the time of the 1945 general election
he had healed his rift with the Conservatives and contested Tottenham South
, but failed to be elected.
Apart from his political and business activities, Bateman was the founder of a charity, the Camberwell Children’s Christmas Treat and Summer Holiday Camp Fund. As part of fundraising activities for the organisation he paraded along Bond Street
dressed in a coronet.
He died at his home in Warwick in May 1957 aged 77.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
businessman and Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Born in London, he was privately educated before entering business as a sack manufacturer. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Company was constituted in 1569. It was recognised as a Livery Company in 1825, and received a Royal Charter in 1937. The Company has recently instituted Yeoman memberships for working basketmakers and...
and a Freeman of the City of London. He became involved in local politics as a mameber of the Conservative-backed Municipal Reform Party
Municipal Reform Party
The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party in the County of London. The party contested elections to both the London County Council and metropolitan borough councils of the county from 1906 to 1945.-Formation:...
. He was elected to Camberwell Borough Council
Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell
Camberwell was a civil parish and metropolitan borough in the County of London. The borough was created in 1900 by the London Government Act 1899, covering the area of the ancient parish of Camberwell...
in 1922 and was the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Camberwell in 1929-1930. In 1931 he was elected to represent Peckham
Peckham (UK Parliament constituency)
Peckham was a borough constituency in South London which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
on the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
.
At the 1931 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1931
The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
he was chosen to contest the seat of Camberwell North
Camberwell North (UK Parliament constituency)
Camberwell North was a borough constituency located in the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell, in South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
on behalf of the Conservatives. The election had been called following the formation of a National Government. This had caused a split in the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
with the majority opposing the coalition. Among these were Charles Ammon
Charles Ammon, 1st Baron Ammon
Charles George Ammon, 1st Baron Ammon PC DL JP was a British Labour Party politician.-Background and education:The son of Charles George and Mary Ammon, he was educated at Public Elementary schools.-Career:...
, sitting MP for Camberwell North. Bateman was the government candidate, with the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
stepping aside from the contest. Bateman was elected, overturning a Labour majority of 7,823 to win by 765 votes.
Bateman proved to be a controversial member of parliament. In April 1932 the North Camberwell Liberal and Radical Association organised protests calling for his resignation. The Liberals claimed he had broken his election pledges and voted to support taxes on food. Bateman countered that his loyalty was not to the voters but to the National Government and that he would not resign. By the time the next election was called in 1935
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
Bateman had made it clear that he no longer wished to represent North Camberwell as the constituency had shown him "no gratitude". He stated that in.. "some parts of North Camberwell I have had to have as many as fifty policemen to get me out of meetings. I will not risk my life any longer." He initially hoped that the Conservative Party would find another constituency for him to contest. When this did not occur he decided to stand as an independent in the neighbouring seat of Peckham
Peckham (UK Parliament constituency)
Peckham was a borough constituency in South London which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, although he withdrew his candidacy prior to the election.
In 1942 Bateman moved to Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
, where he was to be a member of the borough council. By the time of the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
he had healed his rift with the Conservatives and contested Tottenham South
Tottenham South (UK Parliament constituency)
Tottenham South was a parliamentary constituency in Tottenham, in North London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...
, but failed to be elected.
Apart from his political and business activities, Bateman was the founder of a charity, the Camberwell Children’s Christmas Treat and Summer Holiday Camp Fund. As part of fundraising activities for the organisation he paraded along Bond Street
Bond Street
Bond Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London that runs north-south through Mayfair between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. It has been a fashionable shopping street since the 18th century and is currently the home of many high price fashion shops...
dressed in a coronet.
He died at his home in Warwick in May 1957 aged 77.