Robert Getgood
Encyclopedia
Robert Getgood sometimes known as Bob Getgood, was a politician
and trade unionist in Northern Ireland
.
Getgood joined the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU), and later became its Textile Officer. He also joined the Northern Ireland Labour Party
(NILP). In 1931, he stood in an election for the Chairmanship of the party against Harry Midgley
and Sam Kyle
, but they were all beaten by Hugh Gemmell. However, Midgley became Chair later in the decade. During a dispute about the Spanish Civil War
, Midgley stood down and Getgood finally became Chair in about 1939.
In 1940, Getgood was elected to the Executive of the Irish Trades Union Congress (ITUC), and he became Chair in 1944. He stood for Westminster for the NILP at the Antrim by-election, 1943, taking second place, with 28.3% of the votes cast.
Getgood stood in Belfast Oldpark
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, and gained the seat from the Alexander Hungerford of the Ulster Unionist Party
. However, he lost the seat to the Unionists at the 1949 general election
.
Getgood retired from active trade unionism in 1947. He resigned as Chairman of the NILP in 1948, after it came close to declaring in favour of the partition of Ireland
. In 1952, he acted as a delegate to the Moral Rearmament World Assembly held at Caux
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and trade unionist in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Getgood joined the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU), and later became its Textile Officer. He also joined the Northern Ireland Labour Party
Northern Ireland Labour Party
The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...
(NILP). In 1931, he stood in an election for the Chairmanship of the party against Harry Midgley
Harry Midgley
Henry Cassidy Midgley, PC , known as Harry Midgley was a prominent politician in Northern Ireland. Born to a unionist family in Belfast, he worked in the textile industry before joining the Royal Engineers during World War I....
and Sam Kyle
Sam Kyle
Sam Kyle was an Irish trade unionist and politician.Born into a Protestant family in Belfast, Kyle joined the Independent Labour Party. He became an active trade unionist, and at the 1918 UK general election, he stood in Belfast Shankill for the Belfast Labour Representation Committee...
, but they were all beaten by Hugh Gemmell. However, Midgley became Chair later in the decade. During a dispute about the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, Midgley stood down and Getgood finally became Chair in about 1939.
In 1940, Getgood was elected to the Executive of the Irish Trades Union Congress (ITUC), and he became Chair in 1944. He stood for Westminster for the NILP at the Antrim by-election, 1943, taking second place, with 28.3% of the votes cast.
Getgood stood in Belfast Oldpark
Belfast Oldpark (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Oldpark was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Oldpark was a borough constituency comprising part of northern Belfast...
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, and gained the seat from the Alexander Hungerford of the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
. However, he lost the seat to the Unionists at the 1949 general election
Northern Ireland general election, 1949
-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1949...
.
Getgood retired from active trade unionism in 1947. He resigned as Chairman of the NILP in 1948, after it came close to declaring in favour of the partition of Ireland
Partition of Ireland
The partition of Ireland was the division of the island of Ireland into two distinct territories, now Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Partition occurred when the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1920...
. In 1952, he acted as a delegate to the Moral Rearmament World Assembly held at Caux
Caux, Switzerland
Caux is a small village in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It looks out over Lake Geneva from an altitude of 1000 meters.The former Caux-Palace Hotel in the village is the home of Initiatives of Change's conference centre, which can accommodate up to 450 people...
.