Alfred Waterson
Encyclopedia
Alfred Edward Waterson was a Labour
and Co-operative
Member of Parliament
in the United Kingdom
. He was the first Co-operative Party MP.
Born in Derby
, Waterson was a railwayman and activist in his trade union
. He served as a town council
lor.
Although the Co-operative Party put up several candidates for the first time at the 1918 general election
, only one met with success. Waterson was elected as MP for the Kettering
seat. He took the Labour whip in Parliament, ahead of any decision of Co-operative Congress
to progress a formal alliance with the Labour Party.
Waterson was defeated at the 1922 general election
. He became a national organiser of the Co-operative Party, serving until 1945. He contested the Nottingham Central by-election in 1930
, and stood in Nottingham Central
at the 1931 general election
, coming a distant second in each case. He died in Wood Green
, London
aged 84.
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
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...
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,...
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...
. He was the first Co-operative Party MP.
Born in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, Waterson was a railwayman and activist in his 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...
. He served as a town council
Town council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
lor.
Although the Co-operative Party put up several candidates for the first time at the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
, only one met with success. Waterson was elected as MP for the Kettering
Kettering (UK Parliament constituency)
Kettering is a county constituency in Northamptonshire which returns one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
seat. He took the Labour whip in Parliament, ahead of any decision of Co-operative Congress
Co-operative Congress
The Co-operative Congress is the national conference of the UK Co-operative Movement. The first of the modern congresses took place in 1869 following a series of meetings called the "Owenite Congress" in the 1830s...
to progress a formal alliance with the Labour Party.
Waterson was defeated at 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...
. He became a national organiser of the Co-operative Party, serving until 1945. He contested the Nottingham Central by-election in 1930
Nottingham Central by-election, 1930
The Nottingham Central by-election, 1930 was a parliamentary by-election held on 27 May 1930 for the British House of Commons constituency of Nottingham Central.- Previous MP :...
, and stood in Nottingham Central
Nottingham Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Nottingham Central was a borough constituency in the city of Nottingham. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
at the 1931 general election
United 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...
, coming a distant second in each case. He died in Wood Green
Wood Green
Wood Green is a district in north London, England, located in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated north of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of the metropolitan centres in Greater London.-History:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
aged 84.
