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Wilfrid Whiteley (3 February 1882 - 4 April 1970) was a British Labour politician. He was elected to Birmingham Ladywood in 1929.

Early Life

Wilfred Whiteley was born in 1882 in Salendine Nook, a district in Huddersfield. Whiteley attended Padock Board School in Huddersfield until the age of 12. After leaving school he worked at Messrs and Willans wool warehouse for 18 and a half years. Whiteley briefly worked part time at the Advertiser Press when he was aged 18. Whiteley had a strong interest in politics and was involved with the administrative side of politics from 1911 until 1925 as secretary of the Lockwood Independent Labour Party.

Politics

Whiteley had the desire to succeed in politics, and was supported by the Independent Labour Party as he stood for election in the Colne Valley constituency in the 1918 ‘Khaki’ election, representing the Labour Party. Whiteley was unsuccessful in his attempt, but was commended for his honesty whilst campaigning, as he highlighted to the electorate that in the Great War (1914-1918) he had been a conscientious objector. This was a crucial factor in his failure at the ballot box, as soldiers returning from the battlefields were highly revered, whereas conscientious objectors were often accused of cowardice. From 1914 to 1918 Whiteley was head of the Anti-War Movement in Huddersfield. He was an anti-militarist and a staunch socialist. After defeat in the 1918 election Whiteley worked as Publications Manager for the National Labour Press in Manchester. Whiteley was invited to stand for election again in Colne Valley in the 1921 election, but he eventually declined the offer, as he was unemployed and beset by financial worries. In 1925 Whiteley moved to Birmingham, where he was Labour Party agent and secretary for Oswald Mosley in the Smethwick (UK Parliament constituency) constituency of Staffordshire. In his role as Mosley's secretary Whiteley was responsible for helping to organise Mosley’s meetings and engagements in the wider area. Whiteley was in regular contact with G.T. Sutton, who was the Private Secretary of Oswald Mosley, based in London.

Elected to Parliament

From 1929 to 1931 Whiteley was Labour M.P. for Birmingham Ladywood, replacing the Conservative Neville Chamberlain, who stood elsewhere. After defeat in 1931 he became Labour Party constituency agent for Birmingham West (UK Parliament constituency) in 1932-1936. He was also Labour Party agent for the now defunct Elland (UK Parliament constituency) constituency from 1936 to 1947. He died in 1970.

[[1]] All information gathered from the Wilfrid Whiteley Papers at the Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York

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-'''Wilfrid Whiteley''' ([[3 February]] [[1882]] - [[4 April]] [[1970]]) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] Labour politician. He was elected to [[Birmingham Ladywood (UK Parliament constituency)]] in 1929.
+'''Wilfrid Whiteley''' ([[3 February]] [[1882]] - [[4 April]] [[1970]]) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] Labour politician. He was elected to [[Birmingham Ladywood]] in 1929.
 ==Early Life==
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 ==Politics==
-Whiteley had the desire to succeed in politics, and was supported by the Independent Labour Party as he stood for election in the [[Colne Valley]] constituency in the [[1918]] ‘Khaki’ election, representing the [[Labour Party]]. Whiteley was unsuccessful in his attempt, but was commended for his honesty whilst campaigning, as he highlighted to the electorate that in the [[Great War]] (1914-1918) he had been a [[conscientious objector]]. This was a crucial factor in his failure at the ballot box, as soldiers returning from the battlefields were highly revered, whereas conscientious objectors were often accused of [[cowardice]]. From 1914 to 1918 Whiteley was head of the Anti-War Movement in Huddersfield. He was an anti-militarist and a staunch [[socialist]]. After defeat in the 1918 election Whiteley worked as Publications Manager for the [[National Labour Press]] in [[Manchester]]. Whiteley was invited to stand for [[election]] again in Colne Valley in the [[1921]] election, but he eventually declined the offer, as he was [[unemployed]] and beset by financial worries. In [[1925]] Whiteley moved to [[Birmingham]], where he was Labour Party agent and secretary for [[Oswald Mosley]] in the [[Smethwick (UK Parliamentary constituency)]] constituency of [[Staffordshire]]. In his role as Mosley's secretary Whiteley was responsible for helping to organise Mosley’s meetings and engagements in the wider area. Whiteley was in regular contact with G.T. Sutton, who was the Private Secretary of Oswald Mosley, based in [[London]].
+Whiteley had the desire to succeed in politics, and was supported by the Independent Labour Party as he stood for election in the [[Colne Valley]] constituency in the [[1918]] ‘Khaki’ election, representing the [[Labour Party]]. Whiteley was unsuccessful in his attempt, but was commended for his honesty whilst campaigning, as he highlighted to the electorate that in the [[Great War]] (1914-1918) he had been a [[conscientious objector]]. This was a crucial factor in his failure at the ballot box, as soldiers returning from the battlefields were highly revered, whereas conscientious objectors were often accused of [[cowardice]]. From 1914 to 1918 Whiteley was head of the Anti-War Movement in Huddersfield. He was an anti-militarist and a staunch [[socialist]]. After defeat in the 1918 election Whiteley worked as Publications Manager for the [[National Labour Press]] in [[Manchester]]. Whiteley was invited to stand for [[election]] again in Colne Valley in the [[1921]] election, but he eventually declined the offer, as he was [[unemployed]] and beset by financial worries. In [[1925]] Whiteley moved to [[Birmingham]], where he was Labour Party agent and secretary for [[Oswald Mosley]] in the [[Smethwick (UK Parliament constituency)]] constituency of [[Staffordshire]]. In his role as Mosley's secretary Whiteley was responsible for helping to organise Mosley’s meetings and engagements in the wider area. Whiteley was in regular contact with G.T. Sutton, who was the Private Secretary of Oswald Mosley, based in [[London]].
 ==Elected to Parliament==
-From [[1929]] to [[1931]] Whiteley was Labour M.P. for [[Birmingham Ladywood]], replacing the [[Conservative]] [[Neville Chamberlain]], who stood elsewhere. After defeat in 1931 he became Labour Party constituency agent for [[Birmingham West (UK Parliamentary consituency]] in 1932-1936. He was also Labour Party agent for the now defunct [[Elland]] constituency from 1936 to 1947. He died in [[1970]].
+From [[1929]] to [[1931]] Whiteley was Labour M.P. for [[Birmingham Ladywood]], replacing the [[Conservative]] [[Neville Chamberlain]], who stood elsewhere. After defeat in 1931 he became Labour Party constituency agent for [[Birmingham West (UK Parliament constituency)]] in 1932-1936. He was also Labour Party agent for the now defunct [[Elland (UK Parliament constituency)]] constituency from 1936 to 1947. He died in [[1970]].
 [[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=P30407]]