Michael Alfred Noble was a British Labour Party politician.
Background
Noble was the son of Alfred "Bunny" Noble and Olive Noble (née Earle), a bricklayer and a school cook respectively. He was born in a small village near Hull. He was always proud of his background, particularly of the fact that his mother insisted he continue at school beyond the school leaving age and worked extra hours to ensure the family could afford this, as she did for both of his younger brothers, who also followed him to the grammar school.
Education
He attended Hull Grammar School and was a keen athlete, winning the Victor Ludorum in his senior years.
Career
He went to Sheffield University, initially intending to read geography, until his colour blindness forced him into a change of subject. He therefore read economics. As a consequence of this career he moved from Yorkshire to Burnley in Lancashire, where his two younger children were born.
He was always a supporter of the Labour Party and was elected for the local council, becoming the Chair of the Education Committee.
He first stood for parliament in 1970 when he contested the Withington constituency, but was unsuccessful. After losing his seat in the Conservative landslide of 1979, Noble returned to his roots as an educationalist, working first for Blackburn College and then for Burnley College.
Membership
47th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was then was selected for the Rossendale constituency and, despite narrowly being defeated in the February election, Noble was elected Member of Parliament for the marginal Rossendale seat in the October 1974 general election, but lost the seat to the Conservative candidate David Trippier in 1979. While a Member of Parliament Noble served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Roy Hattersley (now Lord Hattersley), in his position as Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.