John Cartwright (British politician)

John Cameron Cartwright (born 29 November 1933) is a former politician in the United Kingdom. He was a Labour and then an SDP Member of Parliament (MP) representing Woolwich East then Woolwich from the October 1974 general election to the 1992 election.

John Cartwright
President of the Social Democratic Party
In office
29 August 1987 – 16 July 1988
LeaderRobert Maclennan
Preceded byShirley Williams
Succeeded byIan Wrigglesworth (as Liberal Democrats President)
Chief Whip, Social Democrat Party
In office
9 June 1983 – 16 July 1988
LeaderDavid Owen
Preceded byJohn Roper
Succeeded byJim Wallace (as Liberal Democrats Chief Whip)
Member of Parliament
for Woolwich
Woolwich East (Oct 1974–1983)
In office
10 October 1974 – 16 March 1992
Preceded byChristopher Mayhew
Succeeded byJohn Austin
Personal details
Born (1933-11-29) 29 November 1933 (age 90)[1]
Political partyLabour (1955–81)
SDP (1981–88)
'Continuing' SDP (1988–90)

Early life edit

Educated at Woking County Grammar School, he was the star of the school's Dramatic Society, for which he played numerous Shakespearean and Goldsmithian ladies. One such production was seen by the Norwegian ambassador, who was so impressed that he invited the whole production to perform in Oslo and Bergen.

Political career edit

Initially an executive officer in the Home Civil Service, Cartwright's political career began when he became a constituency agent for the Labour Party in 1955.[1] Serving twelve years in that role, he was later employed as political secretary of the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society (R.A.C.S.) and as a councillor in Greenwich, where he became the Labour Group leader and, subsequently, leader of the council from 1971 to 1974. He unsuccessfully contested Bexley at the 1970 general election (losing to Edward Heath) and Bexleyheath at the February 1974 election (losing to Cyril Townsend). At the October 1974 election Cartwright was elected as the Labour member for Woolwich East, replacing Christopher Mayhew (who had left Labour to join the Liberal Party the year before).

Following six years as a backbench member of parliament and latterly Parliamentary Private Secretary to Shirley Williams, Cartwright himself left the Labour Party in 1981 to become one of the founding members of the SDP. He served as the SDP's chief whip from 1983 onwards and as its president from 1987. He also served as the SDP/Liberal Alliance's chief defence spokesman from 1983 to 1987. A close political ally of David Owen, he stayed loyal to Owen's 'continuing' SDP after the Liberal Party and a majority of the SDP merged in January 1988 to become the Liberal Democrats.

After the collapse of the continuing SDP in 1990, Cartwright stood for re-election as an 'Independent Social Democrat' – albeit one endorsed by the Liberal Democrats – but lost by 2,200 votes.

Life after politics edit

After leaving active politics he went on to serve as deputy chairman of the Police Complaints Authority before retiring to Kent.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "CARTWRIGHT, John Cameron". Who's Who. Vol. 2018 (online ed.). A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Sources edit

External links edit

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Woolwich East
1974–1983
constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Woolwich
1983–1992
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Socialist societies representative on the Labour Party National Executive Committee
1971–1975
Succeeded by
Tom Jones
Preceded by
Tom Jones
Socialist societies representative on the Labour Party National Executive Committee
1976–1978
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Social Democratic Party
1987–1988
Succeeded by