Stanley Cohen (politician)
Encyclopedia
Stanley Cohen was a British
Labour Party
politician. He was on the trade union
ist right-wing of the party during the early 1980s struggle for control of the party, and as such suffered deselection at the hands of his constituency party.
Cohen was educated at St. Patrick and St. Charles Roman Catholic schools in Leeds
. After service in the Royal Navy
from 1945 to 1947, he moved into the clothing industry. From 1951 he was employed in the estate department of British Railways and became an executive member of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association
. Cohen was a councillor on Leeds City Council
from 1952 and chaired Leeds South East
Constituency Labour Party
. Cohen contested Barkston Ash
in 1966.
He was Member of Parliament
for Leeds South East from 1970 to 1983, but in 1981 he was clearly in trouble with his constituency Labour Party (CLP) which was controlled by the left. He publicly mentioned that he was considering following Tom Bradley
, the former leader of his union, into the SDP
. Labour Party leader Michael Foot
persuaded him to remain in the Labour Party and not defect at a meeting on 3 December 1981. Later that day Foot denounced Peter Tatchell
, a left-wing candidate who had been selected in Bermondsey
; Cohen told The Guardian
"Maybe it had nothing to do with me, but I would like to believe our discussion might have helped him to make his stand". However, when the CLP moved to a reselection ballot, they instead chose the left-winger Derek Fatchett
.
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...
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...
politician. He was on the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ist right-wing of the party during the early 1980s struggle for control of the party, and as such suffered deselection at the hands of his constituency party.
Cohen was educated at St. Patrick and St. Charles Roman Catholic schools in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. After service in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
from 1945 to 1947, he moved into the clothing industry. From 1951 he was employed in the estate department of British Railways and became an executive member of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association
Transport Salaried Staffs' Association
The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association is a trade union for "white collar" workers in the transport industry in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland...
. Cohen was a councillor on Leeds City Council
Leeds City Council
Leeds City Council is the local authority for the City of Leeds metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England.-History:The city council was established in 1974, with the first elections being held in advance in 1973...
from 1952 and chaired Leeds South East
Leeds South East (UK Parliament constituency)
Leeds South East was a borough constituency in the city of Leeds in West Yorkshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
Constituency Labour Party
Constituency Labour Party
A Constituency Labour Party is an organisation of members of the British Labour Party who live in a particular UK parliamentary constituency in England, Scotland and Wales. The Labour Party in Northern Ireland has, since February 2009, been organised as a province-wide Constituency Labour Party...
. Cohen contested Barkston Ash
Barkston Ash (UK Parliament constituency)
Barkston Ash was a parliamentary constituency centred on the village of Barkston Ash in the West Riding of Yorkshire . It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 1983...
in 1966.
He was 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 Leeds South East from 1970 to 1983, but in 1981 he was clearly in trouble with his constituency Labour Party (CLP) which was controlled by the left. He publicly mentioned that he was considering following Tom Bradley
Tom Bradley (UK politician)
Thomas George Bradley was a British politician.Kettering-born, Bradley was educated at Kettering Central School and worked in the mines during World War II...
, the former leader of his union, into the SDP
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
. Labour Party leader Michael Foot
Michael Foot
Michael Mackintosh Foot, FRSL, PC was a British Labour Party politician, journalist and author, who was a Member of Parliament from 1945 to 1955 and from 1960 until 1992...
persuaded him to remain in the Labour Party and not defect at a meeting on 3 December 1981. Later that day Foot denounced Peter Tatchell
Peter Tatchell
Peter Gary Tatchell is an Australian-born British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements...
, a left-wing candidate who had been selected in Bermondsey
Bermondsey (UK Parliament constituency)
Bermondsey was a borough constituency centred on the Bermondsey district of South London, England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
; Cohen told The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
"Maybe it had nothing to do with me, but I would like to believe our discussion might have helped him to make his stand". However, when the CLP moved to a reselection ballot, they instead chose the left-winger Derek Fatchett
Derek Fatchett
Derek John Fatchett PC, QC, FRS was a British politician. He became member of Parliament for Leeds Central in 1983 and was a member of the Labour Party.-Early life:...
.