James Seddon

March 7, 1868 (age 71)

Prescot, Lancashire

Having served an apprenticeship as a grocer, he spent ten years working as a commercial traveller. He subsequently became the delegate of the Street Helens branch of the National Amalgamated Union of Shop Assistants, Warehousemen and Clerks. He was elected as vice-president and then president of the union in 1901 and 1902. In 1906 he was elected Labour Member of Parliament for Newton, Lancashire. He held the seat at the subsequent general election in January, 1910, but was defeated by 144 votes in the December 1910 poll. In 1915 he was elected President of the Trades Union Congress. The SNDC was short-lived, becoming part of the British Workers League in 1916. In 1917 he resigned from the Labour Party, citing a "change of view" caused by the First World War. In late spring 1918 the British Worker"s League resolved to become a parliamentary party. The National Democratic and Labour Party (British Workers League) or NDP was duly formed as a "patriotic working-class party". At the 1918 general election Seddon successfully contested the Hanley constituency for the NDP, becoming one of the new party"s nine MPs. He had the support of the coalition government, and therefore did not face opposition from either the Conservative or Liberal Parties. He was vice-chairman of the party in the Commons from 1918, before becoming chairman in 1920. Seddon"s parliamentary career came to an end in 1922: along with the other NDP MPs he lost his seat at the October general election, despite campaigning as a "National Liberal". Seddon continued his interest in politics outside of parliament. In 1925 he helped found the Steel House Constructors Union, claiming a programme of building steel houses could employ 150,000 mentor J. A. Seddon died of a heart attack at his home in New Barnet, Middlesex on 31 May 1939, aged 71.

James Seddon

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politician

Background

Seddon was born in Prescot, Lancashire in 1868.

Career

Having served an apprenticeship as a grocer, he spent ten years working as a commercial traveller. He subsequently became the delegate of the Street Helens branch of the National Amalgamated Union of Shop Assistants, Warehousemen and Clerks. He was elected as vice-president and then president of the union in 1901 and 1902.

In 1906 he was elected Labour Member of Parliament for Newton, Lancashire.

He held the seat at the subsequent general election in January, 1910, but was defeated by 144 votes in the December 1910 poll. In 1915 he was elected President of the Trades Union Congress. The SNDC was short-lived, becoming part of the British Workers League in 1916.

In 1917 he resigned from the Labour Party, citing a "change of view" caused by the First World War. In late spring 1918 the British Worker"s League resolved to become a parliamentary party.

The National Democratic and Labour Party (British Workers League) or NDP was duly formed as a "patriotic working-class party".

At the 1918 general election Seddon successfully contested the Hanley constituency for the NDP, becoming one of the new party"s nine MPs. He had the support of the coalition government, and therefore did not face opposition from either the Conservative or Liberal Parties. He was vice-chairman of the party in the Commons from 1918, before becoming chairman in 1920.

Seddon"s parliamentary career came to an end in 1922: along with the other NDP MPs he lost his seat at the October general election, despite campaigning as a "National Liberal".

Seddon continued his interest in politics outside of parliament. In 1925 he helped found the Steel House Constructors Union, claiming a programme of building steel houses could employ 150,000 mentor

J. A. Seddon died of a heart attack at his home in New Barnet, Middlesex on 31 May 1939, aged 71.

Politics

In 1915 Seddon became a founding member of the Socialist National Defence Committee.

Membership

28th United Kingdom Parliament. 29th United Kingdom Parliament. 31st United Kingdom Parliament]

Originally a member of the Labour Party, he subsequently moved to the National Democratic and Labour Party.

Seddon continued his work with the union movement, was reselected as Labour candidate for Newton and elected a member of the parliamentary committee of the Trades Union Congress in 1911.

He became a member of the Industrial Peace Union of the British Empire formed after the General Strike of 1926.

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James Seddon

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