William Brown (trade unionist)

William John Brown (13 September 1894 – 3 October 1960) was a British trade unionist, politician and Member of Parliament (MP). He served as general secretary of the Civil Service Clerical Association from 1919 to 1942.

He was first elected to the House of Commons at the 1929 general election as a Labour MP for Wolverhampton West but lost his seat at the 1931 general election

He returned to Parliament at a wartime by-election in 1942. David Margesson the Conservative MP for Rugby and Secretary of State for War had been dismissed from his ministerial job after the loss of Singapore to the Japanese, but was ennobled as Viscount Margesson. The major parties had an agreement not to contest by-elections in seats held by any of their members, but Brown stood as an independent candidate in the Rugby by-election on 29 April, and was returned as the independent MP for Rugby.

Brown was re-elected at the 1945 general election as an Independent MP against both Conservative and Labour opposition. However, at the 1950 general election, he stood again as an independent, but came third with 20% of the vote. The seat was gained for Labour by James Johnson.

References

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Brown

Political offices
Preceded by New position	General Secretary of the Civil Service Clerical Association 1921–1942	Succeeded by Len White
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir Robert Bland Bird	Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton West 1929–1931	Succeeded by Sir Robert Bland Bird
Preceded by David Margesson	Member of Parliament for Rugby 1942–1950	Succeeded by James Johnson