George Darling
Encyclopedia
George Darling, Baron Darling of Hillsborough, PC (20 July 1905–18 October 1985) was a politician in the United Kingdom. He was Labour Co-operative
Member of Parliament
for Sheffield Hillsborough from 1950 to 1974.
His grandfather, Thomas Darling, was agent for James Tomkinson, Liberal MP for Crewe 1900-1910.
Darling was educated at elementary school and started work at 14 in the railway sheds of Crewe
. When he was made redundant in 1926 he went to Leeds University, where he was chair of the Labour Club having joined the Labour Party
in 1923. He later attended Cambridge University where he gained a Masters in economics, and entered journalism. He became Head of research and information of the Co-operative Wholesale Society
from 1930 to 1937. He then joined the Reynolds News until 1942 before becoming industrial correspondent for the BBC
reporting team from 1942 to 1949. He wrote several books on the co-operative movement.
Darling contested Macclesfield
without success in 1935. He was elected for Hillsborough in 1950, succeeding A. V. Alexander
, then the best known Co-operative MP. Darling was a party spokesman in opposition on Board of Trade
subjects and consumer protection. Following Labour
's 1964 election
victory, Darling became Minister of State
at the Board of Trade, stepping down in 1968. He was President of the Institute of Trading Standards Administration and secured legislation regulating car insurance and the descriptions of consumer goods. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1966.
Darling retired from the House of Commons
at the February 1974 general election
. In June of the same year, he was made a life peer
as Baron Darling of Hillsborough, of Crewe
in the County of Cheshire
.
Darling was a member of the Council of the National Fund for Polio Research.
Labour Co-operative
Labour and Co-operative describes those candidates in British elections standing on behalf of both the Labour Party and the Co-operative Party, based on a national agreement between the two parties....
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 Sheffield Hillsborough from 1950 to 1974.
His grandfather, Thomas Darling, was agent for James Tomkinson, Liberal MP for Crewe 1900-1910.
Darling was educated at elementary school and started work at 14 in the railway sheds of Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
. When he was made redundant in 1926 he went to Leeds University, where he was chair of the Labour Club having joined 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...
in 1923. He later attended Cambridge University where he gained a Masters in economics, and entered journalism. He became Head of research and information of the Co-operative Wholesale Society
Co-operative wholesale society
A Co-operative Wholesale Society, or CWS, is a form of Co-operative Federation , in this case, the members are usually Consumers' Co-operatives...
from 1930 to 1937. He then joined the Reynolds News until 1942 before becoming industrial correspondent for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reporting team from 1942 to 1949. He wrote several books on the co-operative movement.
Darling contested Macclesfield
Macclesfield (UK Parliament constituency)
Macclesfield is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
without success in 1935. He was elected for Hillsborough in 1950, succeeding A. V. Alexander
A. V. Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough
Albert Victor Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough KG, CH, PC was a British Labour Co-operative politician. He was three times First Lord of the Admiralty, including during the Second World War, and then Minister of Defence under Clement Attlee.-Background:Born in Weston-super-Mare and...
, then the best known Co-operative MP. Darling was a party spokesman in opposition on Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
subjects and consumer protection. Following 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...
's 1964 election
United Kingdom general election, 1964
The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
victory, Darling became Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
at the Board of Trade, stepping down in 1968. He was President of the Institute of Trading Standards Administration and secured legislation regulating car insurance and the descriptions of consumer goods. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1966.
Darling retired from the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
at the February 1974 general election
United Kingdom general election, February 1974
The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...
. In June of the same year, he was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Darling of Hillsborough, of Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
in the County of Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
.
Darling was a member of the Council of the National Fund for Polio Research.