Henry Solomons (7 November 1902 – 7 November 1965) was a British businessman, trade unionist and Labour Party politician who briefly enjoyed a Parliamentary career.

Early career

Solomons was born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

and educated at

London County Council London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today kno ...

schools, and went into sales as a profession. He joined the trade union

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) is a trade union in the United Kingdom, consisting of around 360,000 members. Usdaw members work in a variety of occupations and industries including: shopworkers, factory and warehouse wo ...

and the Labour Party in 1932, and two years later was elected to

Stepney Borough Council The Metropolitan Borough of Stepney was a Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London, Metropolitan borough in the County of London created in 1900. In 1965 it became part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Formation and boundaries The bo ...

. On the outbreak of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Solomons enlisted in the Army and resigned from the Council. He served in the middle east. At the end of the war, he returned to his old job. He became Organising Secretary for the

Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues Liberal Judaism (until 2002: Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues) is one of the two WUPJ-affiliated denominations in the United Kingdom. It is smaller and more radical in comparison with the other one, the Movement for Reform Judaism. I ...

in 1946, a job which lasted eight years. During his time in the Army Solomons took part in the

Cairo Forces Parliament The Cairo Forces Parliament was a meeting of British soldiers in Cairo, Egypt in February 1944 which voted for the nationalisation of banks, land, mines, and transport in the United Kingdom. Among those that took part was Leo Abse who later be ...

Political advancement

Solomons' political career advanced in the early 1950s. He served on the Executive of the London Labour Party from 1952 to 1960. From 1953 Solomons served on Hammersmith Borough Council. He became a full-time officer of USDAW in 1954. He was also a Governor of Westminster Hospital.

Parliament

At the 1964 general election Solomons was elected as Labour

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

for Kingston upon Hull North, gaining the seat from the Conservatives. However, his health was not good, and was not helped by the stresses of a close Parliament. He collapsed after an all-night sitting in June 1965. He was required to remain in Parliament so that he could be 'nodded through' in Divisions. Solomons died on his 63rd birthday in Westminster hospital, leaving Labour with 313 seats in Commons, a majority of only one vote over its opposition (the Conservative Party had 303 and the Liberals 9)."Majority Cut To One Vote", ''Newport (RI) Daily News'', 8 November 1965, p2 His death precipitated a byelection in a very marginal constituency; Labour's successful defence of the seat led

Harold Wilson James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, (11 March 1916 – 24 May 1995) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from October 1964 to June 1970, and again from March 1974 to April 1976. He ...

to call the 1966 general election.

References

*M. Stenton and S. Lees, "Who's Who of British MPs" Vol. IV (Harvester Press, 1981) *Obituary, ''The Times'', 8 November 1965.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Solomons, Henry 1902 births 1965 deaths English Jews Jewish British politicians Liberal Judaism (United Kingdom) Members of Hammersmith Metropolitan Borough Council Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1964–1966