Frederick Wolfe Astbury
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Commander Frederick Wolfe Astbury (21 April 1872 – 28 December 1954) was a British
businessman and Conservative
politician.
of Hilton Park, Prestwich
, near Manchester
. He entered business as a calico printer, and was a director the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. During the First World War he volunteered for service in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, recruiting for the Royal Navy
.
he was elected as Conservative member of parliament
for Salford West
. He was re-elected at the next election in 1922
. In the following year the prime minister, Stanley Baldwin
, called an election
on the issue of tariff reform. Astbury was regarded as having a very safe seat. However, the election saw a large electoral advance by the Labour Party
, who gained all three Salford constituencies. Astbury was unseated by Labour's Alexander Haycock
. Following the election, a minority Labour government
under Ramsay McDonald was formed. The administration collapsed in the following year, necessitating a further general election
. Astbury regained the seat, benefitting from a large nationwide swing to the Conservatives. At the next election in 1929
the situation was reversed, there was a swing to Labour, which became the largest party in the Commons for the first time and Astbury was unseated by Haycock for a second time. By the time of the next general election in 1931
a National Government had been formed. Haycock and the majority of the Labour Party MPs refused to support the government. Astbury, running as a "National" Conservative, regained the seat.
. They felt they could no longer support the government over their failure to impose quotas or prohibitions on imports of textile goods from India and Burma, threatening the commerce of Lancashire
. The group also felt that the National Government, supported in the main by Conservative members, had passed too much "Socialist" legislation, such as that creating the London Passenger Transport Board
. He was summoned to a meeting of the West Salford Conservative and Unionist Association to explain his position, having first organised a meeting of his constituents which unanimously approved his actions. A decision on whether he would be adopted as the Conservative candidate at the next election was avoided when he announced he would not be seeking re-election due to poor health.
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...
businessman and 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...
politician.
Early life
He was the son of Frederick James Astbury JPJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
of Hilton Park, Prestwich
Prestwich
Prestwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies close to the River Irwell, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury....
, near Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He entered business as a calico printer, and was a director the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. During the First World War he volunteered for service in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, recruiting for 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...
.
Member of parliament for Salford West
At the 1918 general electionUnited 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...
he was elected as 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,...
for 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 :...
. He was re-elected at the next election in 1922
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...
. 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. Astbury was regarded as having a very safe seat. However, the election saw a large electoral advance by the 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...
, who gained all three Salford constituencies. Astbury was unseated by Labour's Alexander Haycock
Alexander Haycock
Alexander Wilkinson Frederick Haycock 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...
. 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 :* * *...
. Astbury regained the seat, benefitting from a large nationwide swing to the Conservatives. At the next election in 1929
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
the situation was reversed, there was a swing to Labour, which became the largest party in the Commons for the first time and Astbury was unseated by Haycock for a second time. By the time of the next general election in 1931
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...
a National Government had been formed. Haycock and the majority of the Labour Party MPs refused to support the government. Astbury, running as a "National" Conservative, regained the seat.
Resignation of National Government whip
In May 1935 Astbury was one of five Conservative MPs who resigned the National Government whipWhip (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...
. They felt they could no longer support the government over their failure to impose quotas or prohibitions on imports of textile goods from India and Burma, threatening the commerce of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. The group also felt that the National Government, supported in the main by Conservative members, had passed too much "Socialist" legislation, such as that creating 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...
. He was summoned to a meeting of the West Salford Conservative and Unionist Association to explain his position, having first organised a meeting of his constituents which unanimously approved his actions. A decision on whether he would be adopted as the Conservative candidate at the next election was avoided when he announced he would not be seeking re-election due to poor health.