Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract

The Right Honourable The Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract Kt JP
First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means
In office 27 April 1992 – 14 May 1997
Preceded by	Paul Dean
Succeeded by	Michael Martin
Member of Parliament for Pontefract and Castleford
In office 26 October 1978 – 1 May 1997
Preceded by	Joseph Harper
Succeeded by	Yvette Cooper
Personal details
Born	18 December 1925 Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England
Died	1 April 2012 (aged 87)
Nationality	British
Political party	Labour

Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract, Kt JP, (18 December 1925 – 1 November 2012), popularly known in his former constituency as Geoff Lofthouse, was a British Labour politician and life peer.

Early life

He was born in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, the son of Ernest Lofthouse, a farm labourer in Micklefield, and Emma (née Fellows). His father died at the age of 35. At the age of 14, Geoff Lofthouse went down the pit at Ackton Hall Colliery in Featherstone. At age 29, he was the President of the local branch of the NUM. He went to the University of Leeds, gaining a BA in Political Studies in 1957, when he was 32 years old. In 1962, he became a councillor on Pontefract Borough Council. He was mayor of Pontefract in 1967, and leader of the council from 1969-73.

Parliamentary career

He was MP for Pontefract and Castleford from a 1978 by-election until his retirement at the 1997 general election, when he was given a life peerage as Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract, of Pontefract in the County of West Yorkshire. In the House of Commons, he served from 1992 until his retirement as a Deputy Speaker of the House to Betty Boothroyd. In the Queen's Birthday Honours 1995 Lofthouse was appointed a Knight Bachelor.^[1] In the Queen's Birthday Honours 1997 Lofthouse was made a Life Peer as Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract, of Pontefract, in the county of West Yorkshire.^[2][3]

Publications

His autobiography, A Very Miner MP, is available from Yorkshire Art Circus Publishers.

Personal life

He married when he was 20 years old; he and his wife Sarah had a daughter.

Death

Lord Lofthouse died on 1 November 2012, aged 86.^[4]

Arms

Arms of Geoffrey Lofthouse, Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract

Coronet Coronet of a Baron Crest A Canary Or, holding in the dexter foot a Miner’s Lamp Sable, glazed proper. Escutcheon Azure, a pale, between and conjoined to two Grills throughout Or, the whole surmounted by three Chevronels Argent, overall on a Pale Sable three ellipses palewise Or. Supporters On either side a Mole sejant erect Sable, holding in the mouth a Rose Argent, slipped and leaved Or. Motto STICK AND LIFT

References

1. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 54066. pp. 1–32. 16 June 1995.
2. The London Gazette: no. 54807. p. 1. 16 June 1997.
3. The London Gazette: no. 54812. p. 1. 20 June 1997.
4. "Former Pontefract MP Geoffrey Lofthouse dies". BBC News (BBC). 1 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.

External links

• Times Guide to the House of Commons, Times Newspapers Limited, 1992 and 1997 editions.
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Geoffrey Lofthouse
• Wakefield Education Yearbook 2004