John Horner (British politician)

Frederick John Horner (5 November 1911 – 11 February 1997) was a British firefighter, trade unionist and politician.

Early life

Horner was the youngest of three sons and a daughter and grew up in Walthamstow.^[1] He won a scholarship to Sir George Monoux Grammar School, and after leaving school he went to work as a junior trainee buyer at Harrods,^[2] but soon went into the Merchant Navy where he saw rapid advancement. However, the depression of the 1930s saw a loss of ships and crews and Horner was unemployed. In 1933, Horner was recruited into the London Fire Brigade by Aylmer Firebrace.^[3] From 1939, Horner was General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union after a left-wing takeover.

Fire Brigades Union

At the FBU, Horner led a recruiting campaign which was astoundingly successful. He pressed the wartime government for an improvement in conditions for firefighters: in 1941 he launched the "Fireman's Charter" setting out all the changes the union desired, all of which were met.^[4] Horner was briefly a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain in the post-war period, and served on the party's Executive Committee from February 1948,^[5] but resigned after the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956.^[4]

Parliamentary career

At the 1964 general election, Horner was elected as Labour Party Member of Parliament for Oldbury and Halesowen, and stood down from his union post. Horner allied with the left, opposing British diplomatic support for the United States over the Vietnam war, and attempts to negotiate a deal with Rhodesia. He also opposed attempts to bring in an incomes policy.

Retirement

Horner lost his seat at the 1970 general election and went into retirement at Ross-on-Wye, although he wrote a book in 1973 about industrial and trade union issues entitled, Studies in Industrial Democracy.

References

1. Horner, J. (1992) "Reminisces of a General Secretary" In: Bailey, V. (eds) Forged in Fire, London: Laurence & Wishart pg.283
2. Horner, J. (1992) "Reminisces of a General Secretary" In: Bailey, V. (eds) Forged in Fire, London: Laurence & Wishart pg. 284
3. "Firefighters and the Blitz" (PDF). FireFighter. Fire Brigades Union. August–September 2010. p. 11.
4. Horner, J. (1992) "Reminisces of a General Secretary" In: Bailey, V. (eds) Forged in Fire, London: Laurence & Wishart pg.351
5. "The Campaign Guide", Conservative and Unionist Central Office, 1950, p. 606.

Sources

• M. Stenton and S. Lees. Who's Who of British MPs Vol. IV (Harvester Press, 1981)
• Obituary, The Independent, 18 February 1997.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by John Horner