Alexander Haycock
Encyclopedia
Alexander Wilkinson Frederick Haycock (28 December 1882 – 15 December 1970) was a Canadian
-born British
Labour
politician.
Born in Ontario
, he was the son of J C Haycock, a leading member of the free trade
movement. He was educated at Kingston Collegiate Institute
and Queen's University
. Prior to the outbreak of the First World War he had taken up residence in the United Kingdom
, was working as a commercial traveller, and was a secretary and lecturer for Norman Angell
's Neutrality League.
he stood as Labour candidate at Winchester, but failed to be elected in this safe Conservative
seat. In the following year the prime minister, Stanley Baldwin
, called an election
on the issue of tariff reform. Haycock was chosen to contest the constituency of Salford West
, and managed to unseat the sitting Conservative member of parliament
, Lieutenant-Commander Frederick Astbury
. Following the election, a minority Labour government
under Ramsay McDonald was formed. The administration collapsed in the following year, necessitating a further general election
. Haycock attempted to defend his seat, but there was a landslide to the Conservatives, and he was defeated by Astbury, his opponent of the previous year.
The next election was held in 1929
. Haycock stood once more as Labour candidate at Salford West. There was a swing to Labour, which became the largest party in the Commons for the first time and Haycock returned to parliament. In a notable incident, Haycock publicly defied Manchester City Council
's bylaws prohibiting the playing of games in city parks on Sundays. In front of a large crowd he played a game of bowls in Gorton Park and indicated his willingness to suffer imprisonment rather than pay a fine or be bound over. Although his name and address was taken by the park superintendent, no charges were brought.
a National Government had been formed. Haycock and the majority of the Labour Party MPs refused to support the government, and he was heavily defeated by Frederick Astbury, running as a "National" Conservative, who became Salford West's MP for the third time.
Haycock attempted to regain the Salford West constituency for Labour, but failed to be elected. Elections were postponed due to the onset of World War II
with the next election in 1945
. Haycock stood unsuccessfully for Labour at the new constituency of Bucklow
, which included parts of Manchester's Wythenshawe
council estate.
In December 1957 Haycock, then aged 75, and described as a barrister
, declared he would be standing as an Independent Labour candidate for the forthcoming by-election at Rochdale
. He susbsequently announced that he was considering standing aside, and had invited J B Priestley to stand in his place. He claimed that his doctor had told him "this campaign will kill me". Priestley, however, denied any interest in contesting the election. In January 1958 Haycock stood aside as he felt that his position was very close to that the TUC and the official Labour Party and he did not want to "score a goal for the other side".
He died at Tarporley
in December 1970 aged 87.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-born British
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
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.
Born in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, he was the son of J C Haycock, a leading member of the free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
movement. He was educated at Kingston Collegiate Institute
Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute is a secondary school in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1792 by Reverend John Stuart based upon a grant for secondary education in the colony of Upper Canada, it moved to its present location in 1892. It is considered the oldest public secondary...
and Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
. Prior to the outbreak of the First World War he had taken up residence in the United Kingdom
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...
, was working as a commercial traveller, and was a secretary and lecturer for Norman Angell
Norman Angell
Sir Ralph Norman Angell was an English lecturer, journalist, author, and Member of Parliament for the Labour Party.Angell was one of the principal founders of the Union of Democratic Control...
's Neutrality League.
Parliamentary career
In the 1922 general electionUnited 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...
he stood as Labour candidate at Winchester, but failed to be elected in this safe Conservative
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...
seat. In the following year the 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 an election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
on the issue of tariff reform. Haycock was chosen to contest the constituency of Salford West
Salford West (UK Parliament constituency)
Salford West was a parliamentary constituency in the City of Salford in Greater Manchester from 1885 until 1983. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- History :...
, and managed to unseat the sitting Conservative 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,...
, Lieutenant-Commander Frederick Astbury
Frederick Wolfe Astbury
Lieutenant-Commander Frederick Wolfe Astbury was a British businessman and Conservative politician.-Early life:...
. Following the election, a minority Labour government
First Labour Government
The First Labour Government of the United Kingdom lasted from January to November 1924. The Labour Party, under James Ramsay MacDonald, had failed to win the general election of December 1923, with 191 seats, although the combined Opposition tally exceeded that of the Conservative government...
under Ramsay McDonald was formed. The administration collapsed in the following year, necessitating a further general election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
. Haycock attempted to defend his seat, but there was a landslide to the Conservatives, and he was defeated by Astbury, his opponent of the previous year.
The next election was held in 1929
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
. Haycock stood once more as Labour candidate at Salford West. There was a swing to Labour, which became the largest party in the Commons for the first time and Haycock returned to parliament. In a notable incident, Haycock publicly defied Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the local government authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by...
's bylaws prohibiting the playing of games in city parks on Sundays. In front of a large crowd he played a game of bowls in Gorton Park and indicated his willingness to suffer imprisonment rather than pay a fine or be bound over. Although his name and address was taken by the park superintendent, no charges were brought.
Exit from parliament
By the time of the next general election in 1931United Kingdom general election, 1931
The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
a National Government had been formed. Haycock and the majority of the Labour Party MPs refused to support the government, and he was heavily defeated by Frederick Astbury, running as a "National" Conservative, who became Salford West's MP for the third time.
Later parliamentary contests
At the 1935 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
Haycock attempted to regain the Salford West constituency for Labour, but failed to be elected. Elections were postponed due to the onset of 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...
with the next election in 1945
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
. Haycock stood unsuccessfully for Labour at the new constituency of Bucklow
Bucklow (UK Parliament constituency)
Bucklow was, from 1945 to 1950, a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament , elected by the first past the post voting system.- Boundaries :...
, which included parts of Manchester's Wythenshawe
Wythenshawe
Wythenshawe is a district in the south of the city of Manchester, England.Formerly part of the administrative county of Cheshire, in 1931 Wythenshawe was transferred to the City of Manchester, which had begun building a massive housing estate there in the 1920s to resolve the problem of its inner...
council estate.
In December 1957 Haycock, then aged 75, and described as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, declared he would be standing as an Independent Labour candidate for the forthcoming by-election at Rochdale
Rochdale by-election, 1958
The Rochdale by-election of 13 February 1958 was a by-election for the constituency of Rochdale, in Lancashire, England, in the House of Commons...
. He susbsequently announced that he was considering standing aside, and had invited J B Priestley to stand in his place. He claimed that his doctor had told him "this campaign will kill me". Priestley, however, denied any interest in contesting the election. In January 1958 Haycock stood aside as he felt that his position was very close to that the TUC and the official Labour Party and he did not want to "score a goal for the other side".
He died at Tarporley
Tarporley
Tarporley is a large village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England....
in December 1970 aged 87.