John Robert Kebty-Fletcher (1869 – 12 July 1918) was a British Conservative politician. Born in Liverpool, Kebty-Fletcher was educated at Liverpool College and on the continent of Europe, and was a linguist, speaking five languages.''Who Was Who'', Published by A&C Black Limited. Online edition, 2020 During the

Second Anglo-Boer War The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the South ...

he worked as a correspondent for the ''

Liverpool Post The ''Liverpool Post'' was a newspaper published by Reach plc, Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. The newspaper and its website ceased publication on 19 December 2013. Until 13 January 2012 it was a daily morning newspaper, wi ...

''. By 1910 he was the chief partner in the firm of Messrs George Fletcher, provision merchants, and a former president of the Liverpool Produce Exchange and a trustee of the

Mersey Quay and Railway Carters' Union The Liverpool and District Carters' and Motormen's Union (LDCMU) was a trade union representing cart drivers in the Merseyside area of England. The union was founded in 1889 as the Mersey Quay and Railway Carters' Union. It opposed the New Unio ...

. In 1912 his address was given as "The Paddock", Hooton, Cheshire.

Political career

Active in Unionist politics, by 1900 Kebty-Fletcher was a member of

Liverpool City Council Liverpool City Council is the governing body for the city of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. It consists of 90 councillors, three for each of the city's 30 wards. The council is currently controlled by the Labour Party and is led by Mayor ...

. He stood at the 1906 General Election as Conservative candidate for

Rossendale Rossendale may refer to several places and organizations in Lancashire, England: Places *Rossendale Valley, a river valley *Borough of Rossendale, a local government district *Rossendale (UK Parliament constituency), a former parliamentary constitu ...

but lost to the Liberal, Lewis Harcourt. He was elected Member of Parliament for Altrincham at the

December 1910 general election The December 1910 United Kingdom general election was held from 3 to 19 December. It was the last general election to be held over several days and the last to be held before the History of the United Kingdom during the First World War, First Wo ...

, gaining the seat from the Liberals. As the Liberals were able to form a

minority government A minority government, minority cabinet, minority administration, or a minority parliament is a government and Cabinet (government), cabinet formed in a parliamentary system when a political party or Coalition government, coalition of parties do ...

with support from the Irish Parliamentary Party, Kebty-Fletcher found himself on the opposition benches. In May 1913 Kebty-Fletcher announced his immediate resignation from parliament by appointment as Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, causing a by-election.

Controversy

In his short parliamentary career he was involved in two controversies. Firstly, in 1911, he made an attack on the

Chancellor of the Exchequer The chancellor of the Exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and head of His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, the Chancellor is ...

, David Lloyd George accusing him of appointing a partner in his law firm to a government post. In 1913 he attacked the government over the Marconi scandal.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kebty-Fletcher, John Robert 1869 births 1918 deaths Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1910–1918 Councillors in Liverpool People educated at Liverpool College