Fred Peart, Baron Peart
Encyclopedia
Thomas Frederick "Fred" Peart, Baron Peart, PC
(30 April 1914 – 26 August 1988) was a British
Labour politician
who served in the Labour governments of the 1960s and 1970s and was a candidate for Deputy Leader of the Party.
The son of Emerson Featherstone Peart, a headmaster and leading Labour member of Durham County Council, and Florence Blissenden, Peart himself qualified as a teacher at the University of Durham
in 1936. He served in the Royal Artillery
in World War II
, gaining the rank of Captain.
Peart was elected Member of Parliament
for Workington
in 1945, serving until 1976. He initially served as PPS
to the Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries (Tom Williams
).
Peart, along with the rest of the Labour Party, went into opposition after Sir Winston Churchill
's 1951 election victory. In 1964, he returned to government after Harold Wilson
defeated Sir Alec Douglas-Home
at that year's election. He was appointed to the Cabinet holding the position Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
, a senior one. His tenure saw advances in pay for agricultural labourers, and in technology.
In 1968 Peart became Lord Privy Seal
, with no particular responsibilities. This was because it suited Wilson to remove him from the Cabinet, but he wanted to keep him in the Cabinet. When the then Leader of the House of Commons was moved seven months later, Peart became Leader of the House of Commons
, taking the subsidiary title Lord President of the Council
. After Labour lost the 1970 election, Peart returned to opposition.
When Labour returned to power, Peart became Agriculture Minister once more.
Not long after Wilson stood down in 1976, Peart was made a life peer
in 1976 as Baron Peart, of Workington in the County of Cumbria, serving as Leader of the House of Lords
and Lord Privy Seal
at a time when the Labour faction in the Lords was tiny compared to the vast Tory majority, mainly composed of hereditary peers.
After Margaret Thatcher
won the 1979 election, Peart went into opposition once again.
Lord Peart died in 1988.
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Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(30 April 1914 – 26 August 1988) was a British
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...
Labour politician
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...
who served in the Labour governments of the 1960s and 1970s and was a candidate for Deputy Leader of the Party.
The son of Emerson Featherstone Peart, a headmaster and leading Labour member of Durham County Council, and Florence Blissenden, Peart himself qualified as a teacher at the University of Durham
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
in 1936. He served in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, gaining the rank of Captain.
Peart was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Workington
Workington (UK Parliament constituency)
Workington is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.-Boundaries:...
in 1945, serving until 1976. He initially served as PPS
PPS
PPS may refer to:In commerce and industry* Participating preferred stock or participating preferred share* Purchasing Power Standard* Pay Per Sale, a payment method used in affiliate marketing....
to the Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries (Tom Williams
Tom Williams, Baron Williams of Barnburgh
"Tom" Williams, Baron Williams of Barnburgh, PC was a British coal miner who became a Labour Party politician.-Career:...
).
Peart, along with the rest of the Labour Party, went into opposition after Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
's 1951 election victory. In 1964, he returned to government after Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
defeated Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Alec Douglas-Home
Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT, PC , known as The Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963 and as Sir Alec Douglas-Home from 1963 to 1974, was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1963 to October 1964.He is the last...
at that year's election. He was appointed to the Cabinet holding the position Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The post was originally named President of the Board of Agriculture and was created in 1889...
, a senior one. His tenure saw advances in pay for agricultural labourers, and in technology.
In 1968 Peart became Lord Privy Seal
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
, with no particular responsibilities. This was because it suited Wilson to remove him from the Cabinet, but he wanted to keep him in the Cabinet. When the then Leader of the House of Commons was moved seven months later, Peart became Leader of the House of Commons
Leader of the House of Commons
The Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Commons...
, taking the subsidiary title Lord President of the Council
Lord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
. After Labour lost the 1970 election, Peart returned to opposition.
When Labour returned to power, Peart became Agriculture Minister once more.
Not long after Wilson stood down in 1976, Peart was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in 1976 as Baron Peart, of Workington in the County of Cumbria, serving as Leader of the House of Lords
Leader of the House of Lords
The Leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The role is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, usually one of the sinecure offices of Lord President of the Council,...
and Lord Privy Seal
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
at a time when the Labour faction in the Lords was tiny compared to the vast Tory majority, mainly composed of hereditary peers.
After Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
won the 1979 election, Peart went into opposition once again.
Lord Peart died in 1988.
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