Robert Bruford
Encyclopedia
Robert Bruford was a British
farmer and agriculturist who developed his activities into the political field. Highly active in his native Somerset
where he was a member of many public bodies and served in local government, Bruford was briefly the Conservative Party
Member of Parliament for Wells
.
also named Robert Bruford, Bruford was educated at Thorn Park School in Teignmouth
and Fullands School in Taunton
, but went to work on the farm and in the brewery business owned by the family at an early age. He assumed full control of the business in 1896. At the Bath and West of England Agricultural Show in Newport, Monmouthshire
in June 1907, his two year old bull 'Pound Bellringer' was reckoned the leader in its class, and he won prizes in other years as well. As with many farms in the area, the family held a farm tenancy rather than owning the land themselves. Bruford became a Director of the Taunton Gas Company Ltd, and of the West Somerset Bacon and Dairy Company Ltd.
Council in 1901 and remained a member until his death; from 1906 to 1923 he was Chairman of the council. Bruford was then elected to Taunton Board of Guardians, of which he also became Chairman, and in 1907 he secured a seat on Somerset County Council
. Later that year he joined the Somerset local committee for debenture-holders in the brewery industry, which were formed to oppose temperance legislation which would harm their financial interests.
MP for Wells
, Sir Harry Greer
, announced he would not contest the 1922 general election
. Bruford was nominated as a Conservative, but was also one of four Conservative candidates to be sponsored by the National Farmers Union. In his election address, Bruford decried "hasty" legislation and said that he wanted "not more legislation, but less legislation". He also called for a return to the freedom and liberty of the subject enjoyed in pre-war years. He was elected with a majority of 3,054 over Liberal
candidate Arthur Hobhouse
.
on 7 December 1922 supporting the Importation of Animals Bill which allowed cattle to be brought in to Britain from Canada; in his speech Bruford said that he had opposed cattle imports and thought the Bill was not in the interests of agriculture, but that the Government had given a pledge and could not go back on it. He called for more protection against disease in imported cattle. Later that month he called for all breadstuff imports to be in the form of grain rather than flour, to give employment to British millers; his suggestion caught the eye of former Minister of Food Viscount Bledisloe
.
, arguing that national or semi-national services provided by local government should not be chargeable to the Rates. His suggestion was supported by individual Members of Parliament from all parties, and the reply from the Government was sympathetic. When new Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin
called a general election
at the end of 1923, Bruford was a supporter of the protectionist
policy he put forward and thought to be in a good position to persuade his constituency; his re-election was therefore regarded by The Times
correspondent as a "foregone conclusion". However he lost his seat by 909 votes to Hobhouse.
of Somerset. In July 1928 he was elected as vice-chairman of the Mental Hospitals Association, becoming Chairman a year later and serving for two years. He regained the Chairmanship of Taunton Rural District Council in 1934. At a meeting of the Smithfield Club of cattle breeders in December 1935, Bruford said that the fat stock shows gave prizes to animals which were too heavy and not wanted by butchers; he argued that there should be a weight limit and prizes should be awarded to the ideal animal which was 10 or 11 hundredweight
. Towards the end of his life he was Chairman of the Council of Agriculture for England in 1937-38.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
farmer and agriculturist who developed his activities into the political field. Highly active in his native Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
where he was a member of many public bodies and served in local government, Bruford was briefly the 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...
Member of Parliament for Wells
Wells (UK Parliament constituency)
Wells is a county constituency centred on the city of Wells in Somerset. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system...
.
Farming upbringing
The son of a farmer and Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
also named Robert Bruford, Bruford was educated at Thorn Park School in Teignmouth
Teignmouth
Teignmouth is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon, situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign about 14 miles south of Exeter. It has a population of 14,413. In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power...
and Fullands School in Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, but went to work on the farm and in the brewery business owned by the family at an early age. He assumed full control of the business in 1896. At the Bath and West of England Agricultural Show in Newport, Monmouthshire
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
in June 1907, his two year old bull 'Pound Bellringer' was reckoned the leader in its class, and he won prizes in other years as well. As with many farms in the area, the family held a farm tenancy rather than owning the land themselves. Bruford became a Director of the Taunton Gas Company Ltd, and of the West Somerset Bacon and Dairy Company Ltd.
Local government service
Bruford began his interest in local public service in 1898; he was first elected to Taunton Rural DistrictTaunton Rural District
Taunton was a rural district in Somerset, England, from 1894 to 1974.It was created in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894.In 1974 it was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 when it became part of Taunton Deane district....
Council in 1901 and remained a member until his death; from 1906 to 1923 he was Chairman of the council. Bruford was then elected to Taunton Board of Guardians, of which he also became Chairman, and in 1907 he secured a seat on Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council is the county council of Somerset in the South West of England, an elected local government authority responsible for the most significant local government services in most of the county.-Area covered:...
. Later that year he joined the Somerset local committee for debenture-holders in the brewery industry, which were formed to oppose temperance legislation which would harm their financial interests.
1922 election
He was already very well known when the sitting ConservativeConservative 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...
MP for Wells
Wells (UK Parliament constituency)
Wells is a county constituency centred on the city of Wells in Somerset. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system...
, Sir Harry Greer
Harry Greer
Sir Harry Greer was a British businessman and Conservative politician.He was elected Member of Parliament for Clapham in a by-election in 1918. However, in the general election of that year he contested, and won, the constituency of Wells. He held the seat until the next election in 1922...
, announced he would not contest the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
. Bruford was nominated as a Conservative, but was also one of four Conservative candidates to be sponsored by the National Farmers Union. In his election address, Bruford decried "hasty" legislation and said that he wanted "not more legislation, but less legislation". He also called for a return to the freedom and liberty of the subject enjoyed in pre-war years. He was elected with a majority of 3,054 over Liberal
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...
candidate Arthur Hobhouse
Arthur Hobhouse
Sir Arthur Lawrence Hobhouse was a long-serving English local government Liberal politician, who is best remembered as the architect of the system of National parks of England and Wales....
.
Parliament
In Parliament, Bruford concentrated on agricultural issues, making his maiden speechMaiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
on 7 December 1922 supporting the Importation of Animals Bill which allowed cattle to be brought in to Britain from Canada; in his speech Bruford said that he had opposed cattle imports and thought the Bill was not in the interests of agriculture, but that the Government had given a pledge and could not go back on it. He called for more protection against disease in imported cattle. Later that month he called for all breadstuff imports to be in the form of grain rather than flour, to give employment to British millers; his suggestion caught the eye of former Minister of Food Viscount Bledisloe
Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe
-External links:*...
.
Defeat
In May 1923 Bruford led a debate on the redistribution of the burden of RatingRates (tax)
Rates are a type of property tax system in the United Kingdom, and in places with systems deriving from the British one, the proceeds of which are used to fund local government...
, arguing that national or semi-national services provided by local government should not be chargeable to the Rates. His suggestion was supported by individual Members of Parliament from all parties, and the reply from the Government was sympathetic. When new Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
called a general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
at the end of 1923, Bruford was a supporter of the protectionist
Protectionism
Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" between imports and goods and services produced domestically.This...
policy he put forward and thought to be in a good position to persuade his constituency; his re-election was therefore regarded by The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
correspondent as a "foregone conclusion". However he lost his seat by 909 votes to Hobhouse.
Later life
Out of Parliament Bruford maintained his local public service, and in 1928 became a County AldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Somerset. In July 1928 he was elected as vice-chairman of the Mental Hospitals Association, becoming Chairman a year later and serving for two years. He regained the Chairmanship of Taunton Rural District Council in 1934. At a meeting of the Smithfield Club of cattle breeders in December 1935, Bruford said that the fat stock shows gave prizes to animals which were too heavy and not wanted by butchers; he argued that there should be a weight limit and prizes should be awarded to the ideal animal which was 10 or 11 hundredweight
Hundredweight
The hundredweight or centum weight is a unit of mass defined in terms of the pound . The definition used in Britain differs from that used in North America. The two are distinguished by the terms long hundredweight and short hundredweight:* The long hundredweight is defined as 112 lb, which...
. Towards the end of his life he was Chairman of the Council of Agriculture for England in 1937-38.