Albert Oram, Baron Oram
Encyclopedia
Albert Edward Oram, Baron Oram, (13 August 1913 – 5 September 1999), was a Co-operative and Labour politician in the United Kingdom
.
Bert Oram, the son of the blacksmith who made the beautiful railings around Chichester cathedral, was educated at Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School and the London School of Economics
. He became a teacher. In the Second World War he was initially recognised as a conscientious objector
, but voluntarily renounced his exemption to join the army. He served in the Royal Artillery
and landed in Normandy
three days after D-Day
, continuing on the campaign into Germany
. After the war he briefly returned to teaching before moving in 1946 to work for the Co-operative Party
as Research Officer. He advocated consumer welfare and democratising industrial relations, writing a series of publications including The People's Industry.
Oram attempted to win the parliamentary seats of Lewes
in 1945, where he was supported by the charismatic Harold Laski
(who had greatly influenced him at LSE) and by his future wife Joan, and of Billericay
in 1950 where he lost despite winning 19,437 votes. He served as Labour
and Co-operative Member of Parliament
for East Ham South
from 1955 to February 1974. His maiden speech concentrated on the successes of the cooperative movement. In January 1958 he introduced a private members bill to reform and speed up parliamentary procedures.
He was Parliamentary Secretary for Overseas Development 1964 to 1969 under Barbara Castle
, Anthony Greenwood, Arthur Bottomley
and his Parliamentary neighbour in East Ham, Reg Prentice; and a Government Whip
1976 to 1978 in the House of Lords
. He accompanied the Prime Minister (Harold Wilson
) on trips to Africa, including unsuccessful negotiations with Ian Smith
after Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965. He took a particular interest in promoting education in Africa, leading the UK Delegation to UNESCO
and increasing resources for teacher training.
Oram was a European enthusiast and opponent of nuclear weapons. In October 1971 he was the only Labour and Cooperative MP to support the Conservative Government's motion to negotiate membership of the European Community. He became co-ordinator of the development programmes of the Co-operative Alliance in 1971 and held this office until 1973. He was a member of the Commonwealth Development Corporation
in the years 1975 and 1976, and was made Chairman of the Co-operative Development Agency from 1978 to 1981. He was the Opposition Spokesman in the House of Lords
on Overseas Development 1983-87.
On 22 January 1976 he was created Baron Oram of Brighton in the County of East Sussex
. He chaired the Boards of the Brighton Cooperative Society and of the League of Sussex Downsmen (now the South Downs Society)
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...
.
Bert Oram, the son of the blacksmith who made the beautiful railings around Chichester cathedral, was educated at Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School and the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He became a teacher. In the Second World War he was initially recognised as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, but voluntarily renounced his exemption to join the army. 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:...
and landed in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
three days after D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, continuing on the campaign into Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After the war he briefly returned to teaching before moving in 1946 to work for the Co-operative Party
Co-operative Party
The Co-operative Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative principles. The party does not put up separate candidates for any UK election itself. Instead, Co-operative candidates stand jointly with the Labour Party as "Labour...
as Research Officer. He advocated consumer welfare and democratising industrial relations, writing a series of publications including The People's Industry.
Oram attempted to win the parliamentary seats of Lewes
Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)
Lewes is a constituency located in East Sussex and centred on the town of Lewes. It is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a safe Conservative seat until 1997, but the Liberal Democrats have gained a strong foothold.-Boundaries:The constituency is...
in 1945, where he was supported by the charismatic Harold Laski
Harold Laski
Harold Joseph Laski was a British Marxist, political theorist, economist, author, and lecturer, who served as the chairman of the Labour Party during 1945-1946, and was a professor at the LSE from 1926 to 1950....
(who had greatly influenced him at LSE) and by his future wife Joan, and of Billericay
Billericay (UK Parliament constituency)
Billericay was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.It returned Conservative MPs at every election except 1966....
in 1950 where he lost despite winning 19,437 votes. He served as Labour
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...
and Co-operative 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 East Ham South
East Ham South (UK Parliament constituency)
East Ham South was a parliamentary constituency centred on the East Ham district of London, which was in Essex until 1965. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.- History :The...
from 1955 to February 1974. His maiden speech concentrated on the successes of the cooperative movement. In January 1958 he introduced a private members bill to reform and speed up parliamentary procedures.
He was Parliamentary Secretary for Overseas Development 1964 to 1969 under Barbara Castle
Barbara Castle
Barbara Anne Castle, Baroness Castle of Blackburn , PC, GCOT was a British Labour Party politician....
, Anthony Greenwood, Arthur Bottomley
Arthur Bottomley
Arthur George Bottomley, Baron Bottomley, OBE, PC was a British Labour politician, Member of Parliament and minister....
and his Parliamentary neighbour in East Ham, Reg Prentice; and a Government Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
1976 to 1978 in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. He accompanied the Prime Minister (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...
) on trips to Africa, including unsuccessful negotiations with Ian Smith
Ian Smith
Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979...
after Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965. He took a particular interest in promoting education in Africa, leading the UK Delegation to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and increasing resources for teacher training.
Oram was a European enthusiast and opponent of nuclear weapons. In October 1971 he was the only Labour and Cooperative MP to support the Conservative Government's motion to negotiate membership of the European Community. He became co-ordinator of the development programmes of the Co-operative Alliance in 1971 and held this office until 1973. He was a member of the Commonwealth Development Corporation
Commonwealth Development Corporation
The Commonwealth Development Corporation, now known as CDC Group plc, is a British development organisation owned by the UK Government...
in the years 1975 and 1976, and was made Chairman of the Co-operative Development Agency from 1978 to 1981. He was the Opposition Spokesman in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
on Overseas Development 1983-87.
On 22 January 1976 he was created Baron Oram of Brighton in the County of East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. He chaired the Boards of the Brighton Cooperative Society and of the League of Sussex Downsmen (now the South Downs Society)