LEADER OF LABOUR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19337, 29 May 1937, Page 5

LEADER OF LABOUR

FIRST PRIME MINISTER MR. RAMSAY MACDONALD "The man from Lossiemouth," Mr. J. Ramsay MacDonald, who has resigned his post in the Cabinet as Lord t President of the Council, was Britain's first Labour Prime Minister. He held that office from January to November, 1924, when his Government was defeated. His party gained the largest number of seals, although not an absolute majority in the elections of May, 1929. With Liberal support, Mr. MacDonald then headed Britain's second (and last) Labour Government, which lasted up to its transformation in August, 1931, into a "National" Government, when many Conservative and Liberal leaders took office under him, despite the desertion of most of his Labour supporters. An election followed in a few weeks and the National Ministry was returned with the greatest majority ever accorded a party in Britain—6s4 seats against 51 for the Labour and Lloyd George-Liberal Opposition. Mr. MacDonald remained Prime Minister during the worst of the depression period until June, 1935,. when he resigned in favour of Mr. Stanley Baldwin, whose Ministry was endorsed at a general election the following November. Rejected by Seaham Mr. MacDonald had accepted the portfolio of Lord President of the Council, which he held until his retirement. Ho had held his strong Labour seat of Seaham Harbour in the critical 1931 election with a greatly reduced majority, but was decisively defeated ill November, 1935. His son, Malcolm, suffered a similar victory and defeat at Bassetlaw. At Mr. Baldwin's request, neither resigned his Cabinet post, but sought re-election to the House in Scottish by-elections shortly afterwards, both being successful. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald was elected as the National-Labour member for Scottish diversities, which seat he still holds. At Southampton, when he was 30 years of age, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald fought and lost his first Parliamentary election. Leicester rejected him in 1900, but elected him in 1906, and was faithful to him until 1918. In 1922 be was elected for Aberavon, representing that constituency till 1929 when he was first returned for Seaham.

In 1896 he married Miss Margaret Gladstone, daughter of Dr. J. 11. Gladstone, F.R.S., and until her death in 1911 she was the closest comrade in all bis work.