Black Crested Titmouse

by | Dec 30, 2017 | Titmice

How Can We Help?
You are here:
< Back
This article is about the politician. For the poet, see Jon Silkin.

John Ernest Silkin (18 March 1923 – 26 April 1987) was a British left-wing Labour politician and solicitor.

Early life

He was the third son of Lewis Silkin, 1st Baron Silkin, and a younger brother of Samuel Silkin, Baron Silkin of Dulwich. He was educated at Dulwich College, the University of Wales and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Silkin served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from 1942 to 1946. He was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in 1943, serving in the East Indies Fleet, Eastern Fleet and Pacific Fleet aboard HMS King George V and HMS Formidable, and ashore at Anderson, Ceylon (FECB). He was later promoted lieutenant. He was demobilised in 1946 and returned to Cambridge.

Silkin was admitted as a solicitor in 1950 and worked for his father's law practice in London.

Parliamentary career

He contested the seat of St Marylebone for the Labour Party at the 1950 general election, West Woolwich in 1951 and South Nottingham in 1959. He served as a councillor in the Metropolitan Borough of St Marylebone (1962–63) and was elected to the House of Commons for the first time in July 1963. He served as the Labour Member of Parliament for Deptford (1963–74) and for Lewisham, Deptford (1974–87).

He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1966. He served as a Government Chief Whip (1966–69) and as the deputy leader of the House of Commons (1968–69). He was appointed as the Minister of Public Buildings and Works (1969–70) and the Minister for Planning and Local Government in the Department for the Environment (1974–76). He served as the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1976–79).

In opposition, Silkin was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1980 Labour leadership election following the resignation of James Callaghan, losing to Michael Foot, and in the deputy leadership election in 1981, losing to incumbent Denis Healey.[1] He served as Opposition Spokesman on Industry (1979–80), Shadow Leader of the House of Commons (1980–83), Shadow Defence Secretary (1981–83) and the Dairy Industry Arbitrator (1986–87).

Silkin's publication Changing Battlefields: The Challenge to the Labour Party appeared posthumously. His widow gave his papers to the Churchill Archives Centre in February 1990. These cover his parliamentary and ministerial career, as well as his other public interests, such as the Channel Tunnel, the European Economic Community and the dairy industry. There is material of particular interest concerning his relationship with his Constituency Labour Party in Deptford and on the Labour Party's 1980 leadership and 1981 deputy leadership elections.

Family

He was married to the actress Rosamund John from 1950 until his death in 1987. Their son Rory L. F. Silkin was born in 1954.[2] Rory has a daughter called Natasha Silkin, who also works in politics for Hanover Communications.[3]

External links

References

  1. ^ Carlton, Ann (10 August 2016). "How Tony Benn's deputy leadership campaign was defeated". New Statesman.
  2. ^ "John Silkin Dies in London; Was Labor Cabinet Minister". The New York Times. Associated Press. 28 April 1987. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Natasha Silkin". Hanover Communications. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Deptford
1963–1974 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament
for Lewisham Deptford
1974–1987 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Commons
1966 		Succeeded by
Treasurer of the Household
1966
Preceded by Chief Whip of the House of Commons
1966–1969 		Succeeded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
1966–1969
Preceded by Minister of State for Public Buildings and Works
1969–1970 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services
1972–1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister of State for Local Government and Development Minister of State for Local Government and Planning
1974–1976 		Position abolished
Preceded by Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
1976–1979 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Secretary of State for Industry
1979–1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
1980–1983 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
1981–1984 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Labour Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Commons
1966 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Labour Chief Whip of the House of Commons
1966–1969 		Succeeded by
Categories
Table of Contents