Charles Latham, 1st Baron Latham
Encyclopedia
Charles Latham, 1st Baron Latham (26 December 1888 – 31 March 1970) was a British
politician
and Leader of the London County Council
from 1940 to 1947.
Latham was born with the surname Lathan in Norwich
, but changed his name in order to distinguish himself from his elder brother George
, who also had a political career. He worked as a Railway Clerk there, and later moved to London where he became involved in Trade Union
activities. He helped to form the London Labour Party
in 1914, and was President of the National Union of Clerks in 1916. During World War I
he fought in France
with the Royal Sussex Regiment.
Latham had retrained as an accountant
and continued his involvement in London politics, fighting the general elections of 1922 and 1923 in Hendon
. His administrative skill and knowledge of transport issues led to his selection as a County Alderman
on the London County Council
in 1928. This brought him into close contact with Herbert Morrison, the Labour Leader on the LCC and Minister of Transport in the Labour government from 1929. Latham was a strong personal supporter of Morrison with whom he agreed on most issues (especially financial orthodoxy), and with Morrison's support he was elected again to the London Executive.
In the 1934 election Latham gave up his seat as an Alderman for an elected Councillor at Hackney
South, again using Morrison's influence (Morrison had been Mayor and MP for Hackney). Labour won a majority and Latham was appointed as Chair of the Finance Committee, which both Morrison and Latham agreed should make sure that taxation was kept as low as possible. This work was seen to be successful when Labour were re-elected in 1937.
When Morrison was appointed to the Government in the wartime Coalition, he chose Latham as his successor as Leader of the Council. The circumstances of the time made civil defence of London the top priority for the Council, and normal party politics were suspended. The Council had a large share of the responsibility for Air Raid Precautions
(it ran the Fire Service and the Ambulance Service) and it was the biggest hospital authority in the country. Latham took the Chairmanship of the Civil Defence Committee for himself.
However, Latham did not ignore political issues during the war. He instigated a Labour Party inquiry into the structure of London government for the post-war period, which was an attempt to settle and justify his preferred policy of creating a Greater London Authority covering a much wider area. This was a highly controversial policy within the party, and two members of the committee drawing up the report voted against it, with four others unable to agree on the distribution of powers between various local government bodies.
After the end of the war Latham won the 1946 election in a landslide, following other large Labour victories at the General election and in municipal elections. However his relationship with the Labour group deteriorated with many complaints about lack of consultation and excessive discipline. Although this was characteristic of all Labour leaders of the LCC, Latham did not have the personality or the stature to overcome it. On 15 July 1947, Latham announced his resignation 'for personal reasons'. It is often held to be significant that his successor, Isaac Hayward
, was one of those who had voted against his plan for a Greater London Authority, and Hayward's Chief Whip was the other.
Latham had served on the London Passenger Transport Board
(LPTB) since 1935, and, within a month of his resignation as Leader of the LCC, his appointment as chairman of the London Transport Executive
(LTE), which was to replace the LPTB from 1 January 1948, was announced by the Labour Government on 20 August 1947. Latham's appointment had been predicted in a House of Commons debate on the Transport Act on 24 July by MP Henry Strauss, and the coincidence of these two events provoked considerable comment and suggestions of a fix, but the Minister for Transport denied that he had had any contact with Latham.
Lord Ashfield, chairman of the outgoing LPTB, resigned the post on 31 October 1947, and Latham filled the role temporarily until the Board was abolished at the end of that year. As chairman of the LTE, Latham welcomed in London's last tram
in the early hours of 6 July 1952 "Goodbye old tram!" Lord Latham.
Latham served as Chairman for six years. He had been given a Peerage while LCC Leader in 1942 and held several other public appointments later in his life — on the Metropolitan Water Board, and the Standing Advisory Committee on Pay of the Higher Civil Service. He was Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex
from 1945 to 1956.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Leader of the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
from 1940 to 1947.
Latham was born with the surname Lathan in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, but changed his name in order to distinguish himself from his elder brother George
George Lathan
George Lathan was a British trade unionist and politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Park from 1929 to 1931 and from 1935 until his death....
, who also had a political career. He worked as a Railway Clerk there, and later moved to London where he became involved in 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...
activities. He helped to form the London 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...
in 1914, and was President of the National Union of Clerks in 1916. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he fought in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with the Royal Sussex Regiment.
Latham had retrained as an accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
and continued his involvement in London politics, fighting the general elections of 1922 and 1923 in Hendon
Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
. His administrative skill and knowledge of transport issues led to his selection as a County Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
on the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
in 1928. This brought him into close contact with Herbert Morrison, the Labour Leader on the LCC and Minister of Transport in the Labour government from 1929. Latham was a strong personal supporter of Morrison with whom he agreed on most issues (especially financial orthodoxy), and with Morrison's support he was elected again to the London Executive.
In the 1934 election Latham gave up his seat as an Alderman for an elected Councillor at Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
South, again using Morrison's influence (Morrison had been Mayor and MP for Hackney). Labour won a majority and Latham was appointed as Chair of the Finance Committee, which both Morrison and Latham agreed should make sure that taxation was kept as low as possible. This work was seen to be successful when Labour were re-elected in 1937.
When Morrison was appointed to the Government in the wartime Coalition, he chose Latham as his successor as Leader of the Council. The circumstances of the time made civil defence of London the top priority for the Council, and normal party politics were suspended. The Council had a large share of the responsibility for Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions was an organisation in the United Kingdom set up as an aid in the prelude to the Second World War dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air-raids. It was created in 1924 as a response to the fears about the growing threat from the development of bomber...
(it ran the Fire Service and the Ambulance Service) and it was the biggest hospital authority in the country. Latham took the Chairmanship of the Civil Defence Committee for himself.
However, Latham did not ignore political issues during the war. He instigated a Labour Party inquiry into the structure of London government for the post-war period, which was an attempt to settle and justify his preferred policy of creating a Greater London Authority covering a much wider area. This was a highly controversial policy within the party, and two members of the committee drawing up the report voted against it, with four others unable to agree on the distribution of powers between various local government bodies.
After the end of the war Latham won the 1946 election in a landslide, following other large Labour victories at the General election and in municipal elections. However his relationship with the Labour group deteriorated with many complaints about lack of consultation and excessive discipline. Although this was characteristic of all Labour leaders of the LCC, Latham did not have the personality or the stature to overcome it. On 15 July 1947, Latham announced his resignation 'for personal reasons'. It is often held to be significant that his successor, Isaac Hayward
Isaac Hayward
Sir Isaac James Hayward was Leader of the London County Council from 1947 until it was abolished in 1965....
, was one of those who had voted against his plan for a Greater London Authority, and Hayward's Chief Whip was the other.
Latham had served on the London Passenger Transport Board
London Passenger Transport Board
The London Passenger Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1933 to 1948...
(LPTB) since 1935, and, within a month of his resignation as Leader of the LCC, his appointment as chairman of the London Transport Executive
London Transport Executive
The London Transport Executive was the organisation responsible for public transport in the Greater London area, UK, between 1948-1962. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-Creation:On 1...
(LTE), which was to replace the LPTB from 1 January 1948, was announced by the Labour Government on 20 August 1947. Latham's appointment had been predicted in a House of Commons debate on the Transport Act on 24 July by MP Henry Strauss, and the coincidence of these two events provoked considerable comment and suggestions of a fix, but the Minister for Transport denied that he had had any contact with Latham.
Lord Ashfield, chairman of the outgoing LPTB, resigned the post on 31 October 1947, and Latham filled the role temporarily until the Board was abolished at the end of that year. As chairman of the LTE, Latham welcomed in London's last tram
Trams in London
There have been two separate generations of trams in London, from 1860 to 1952 and from 2000. Between 1952 and 2000, no trams ran at all in London.- Horse trams :...
in the early hours of 6 July 1952 "Goodbye old tram!" Lord Latham.
Latham served as Chairman for six years. He had been given a Peerage while LCC Leader in 1942 and held several other public appointments later in his life — on the Metropolitan Water Board, and the Standing Advisory Committee on Pay of the Higher Civil Service. He was Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex
Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex
This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex. The office was abolished on 1 April 1965, with the creation of Greater London and the post of Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, with small parts of Middlesex coming under the jurisdiction of the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, the...
from 1945 to 1956.