Arthur Holt | |
---|---|
President of the Liberal Party | |
In office 1974–1975 | |
Leader | Jeremy Thorpe |
Preceded by | Rhys Lloyd |
Succeeded by | Margaret Wingfield |
Liberal Chief Whip | |
In office May 1962 – 1963 | |
Leader | Jo Grimond |
Preceded by | Donald Wade |
Succeeded by | Eric Lubbock |
Member of Parliament for Bolton West | |
In office 25 October 1951 – 25 September 1964 | |
Preceded by | John Lewis |
Succeeded by | Gordon Oakes |
Personal details | |
Born | 8 August 1914 Bolton, Lancashire |
Died | 23 August 1995 81) | (aged
Political party | Liberal Party |
Spouse |
Kathleen Openshaw (m. 1939) |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | Victoria University of Manchester |
Arthur Frederick Holt (8 August 1914 – 23 August 1995) was a hosiery manufacturer and Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom, and Member of Parliament for thirteen years.
Background
Holt was born in Bolton. He was educated at Mill Hill School and Victoria University of Manchester.[1] In 1939 he married Kathleen Mary Openshaw, MBE. They had one son and one daughter.[2] He played Rugby for Bolton RUFC.
Professional career
Holt joined the Loyal Regiment as a Territorial Army officer in 1938[3] and left the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers in 1964. He was company commander in the Reconnaissance Corps and was taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore in 1942.[4] He was twice mentioned in dispatches.
Holt was a hosiery manufacturer. With his two brothers he built up in Bolton an industry new to the town.[5] He was Chairman, Holt Hosiery Co. Ltd, Bolton, 1971–73.[6]
Political career
Holt was first elected at the 1951 general election, when he defeated the only other candidate in the Bolton West constituency, sitting Labour MP John Lewis. Holt was re-elected in straight contests with Labour at two further general elections. He was Parliamentary Chairman of the Liberal Party from 1952 to 1955. He was a Member of the Parliamentary delegation to Russia in 1954.[7] He was Liberal Chief Whip from 1962 to 1963. His share of the vote was halved when the Conservative Party fielded a candidate at the 1964 general elections, and the seat was won by Labour's Gordon Oakes.[8] He was President of the Liberal Party from 1974 to 1975.
Electoral record
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alfred Booth | 24,826 | 45.48 | n/a | |
Conservative | Philip Bell | 21,117 | 38.68 | n/a | |
Liberal | Arthur Holt | 8,647 | 15.84 | n/a | |
Majority | 3,709 | 6.79 | n/a | ||
Turnout | 54,590 | 87.46 | n/a | ||
Labour win (new seat) |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Arthur Holt | 26,271 | 52.76 | +32.30 | |
Labour | John Lewis | 23,523 | 47.24 | +2.62 | |
Majority | 2,748 | 5.52 | - | ||
Turnout | 49,794 | 84.79 | -2.76 | ||
Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | +17.46 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Arthur Holt | 24,827 | 55.37 | +2.61 | |
Labour | James Haworth | 20,014 | 44.63 | -2.61 | |
Majority | 4,813 | 10.73 | +5.22 | ||
Turnout | 44,841 | 79.05 | - 5.74 | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | +2.61 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Arthur Holt | 23,533 | 54.63 | -0.74 | |
Labour | Peter Cameron | 19,545 | 45.37 | +0.74 | |
Majority | 3,988 | 9.26 | -1.48 | ||
Turnout | 43,078 | 79.72 | +0.65 | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | -0.74 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Gordon Oakes | 16,519 | 41.17 | -4.20 | |
Conservative | Douglas Sisson | 13,522 | 33.70 | + 33.70 | |
Liberal | Arthur Holt | 10,086 | 25.14 | - 29.49 | |
Majority | 2,997 | 7.47 | |||
Turnout | 38,346 | 78.15 | -1.67 | ||
Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | -18.95 | |||
References
- ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1964
- ↑ (2007, December 01). Holt, Arthur Frederick, (8 Aug. 1914–23 Aug. 1995), Chairman, Holt Hosiery Co. Ltd, Bolton, 1971–73. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Ed. Retrieved 12 Apr. 2019, from http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-173192.
- ↑ Joyce, Peter; Egan, Mark (1998). Duncan Brack (ed.). Dictionary of Liberal Biography. London: Politico's Publishing. pp. 183–184. ISBN 1902301099.
- ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1951
- ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1950
- ↑ (2007, December 01). Holt, Arthur Frederick, (8 Aug. 1914–23 Aug. 1995), Chairman, Holt Hosiery Co. Ltd, Bolton, 1971–73. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Ed. Retrieved 12 Apr. 2019, from http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-173192.
- ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1955
- ↑ See 1959 election results Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine and 1964 election results Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine for Bolton West
- ↑ General Election 23 February 1950: Bolton East. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ↑ General Election 25 October 1951: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ↑ General Election 26 May 1955: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ↑ General Election 8 October 1959: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ↑ General Election 15 October 1964: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.