Whiteley, Wilfrid

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Wilfrid Whiteley was born on 3 February 1882 in Salendine Nook, Huddersfield. He attended Paddock Board School in Huddersfield until the age of 12. After leaving school he worked at a wool warehouse for eighteen and a half years, briefly working part-time at the Advertiser Press when aged 18. Whiteley had a strong interest in politics and was involved with the administrative side of politics, principally as secretary of the Lockwood Independent Labour Party, 1911-1925. Supported by the Independent Labour Party, 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 he was commended for his honesty whilst campaigning as he openly admitted his state as a conscientious objector in the 1914-1918 War, a fact he chose not to hide from the electorate. This was a crucial factor in his failure at the ballot box. From 1914-1918 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. He was invited to stand for election again in Colne Valley in the 1921 election but eventually declined the offer as he was unemployed at the time and financial worries prevented him from standing. From 1925 to 1929 Whiteley moved to Birmingham where he was Labour Party agent and secretary for Oswald Mosley in the Smethwick constituency of Birmingham. In his role as secretary to Mosley, Whiteley was responsible for helping organise the schedule of Mosley’s meetings and engagements within the West Midlands. Whiteley was in regular contact with G.T Sutton who was the Private Secretary of Oswald Mosley. From 1929 to 1931 Whiteley was Labour MP for Ladywood (Birmingham), succeeding former Conservative MP Neville Chamberlain, who became MP for Edgbaston in 1929. After defeat in 1931, Whiteley became the Labour Party constituency agent for West Birmingham from 1932 to 1936. He was also Labour Party agent for Elland constituency from 1936 to 1947. He died on 4 April 1970.

From the guide to the Papers of Wilfrid Whiteley, 1894-1950, (Borthwick Institute, University of York)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Papers of Wilfrid Whiteley, 1894-1950 Borthwick Institute (York)
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Labour Party Great Britain corporateBody
associatedWith Mosley Oswald Ernald 1896-1980 person
associatedWith Whiteley Wilfrid 1882-1970 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Birmingham England
Huddersfield England
Subject
Local government
Occupation
Activity

Person

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