Mortimer's early career was in the shipbuilding and engineering industries where he worked as a ship fitter apprentice, a machinist and a planning engineer. He studied as a TUC Scholar at Ruskin College, Oxford in 1945 and 1946 and worked at the TUC Economic Department from 1946 to 1948.
Mortimer was General Secretary of the Labour Party between 1982 and 1985, a time of great turmoil in the Labour Party with the formation of the breakaway SDP and the rise of the Militant tendency. During the 1983 general election campaign, at the daily press conference on 26 May, Mortimer announced that "The unanimous view of the campaign committee is that Michael Foot is the leader of the Labour Party and speaks for the Party".[2] It later emerged that Foot's leadership had not been discussed, but created an impression that Foot needed a vote of confidence to continue. The press claimed this as an 'own goal'.[1] Mortimer wrote about this in his autobiography "I do not regret, that at a time when there was an effort to undermine the leadership of Michael Foot, I made it clear that this effort found no sympathy in Walworth Road. 'Own Goals' are more often than not the invention of journalistic chatter.".[2]
He played an important role in the miners' strike of 1984 and 1985, throwing himself into support for the miners and being given honorary membership of the NUM in recognition of his efforts.
Personal lifeedit
He wrote several books, including a three volume history of the boilermakers' union and an autobiography "A Life on the Left". He had three children with Renee - his first wife. Hugh (1943),Jamie (1947) and Diana (1955)
Referencesedit
^ abObituary: Jim Mortimer, telegraph.co.uk, 24 April 2013
mortimer, publisher, president, editor, deseret, news, william, james, mortimer, james, edward, mortimer, january, 1921, april, 2013, british, trade, unionist, labour, party, general, secretary, between, 1982, 1985, personal, detailsborn12, january, 1921died23. For the publisher president and editor of the Deseret News see William James Mortimer James Edward Mortimer 12 January 1921 23 April 2013 was a British trade unionist and the Labour Party General Secretary between 1982 and 1985 1 Jim MortimerPersonal detailsBorn12 January 1921Died23 April 2013 2013 04 23 aged 92 Contents 1 Early life and career 2 General Secretary of the Labour Party 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and career editMortimer s early career was in the shipbuilding and engineering industries where he worked as a ship fitter apprentice a machinist and a planning engineer He studied as a TUC Scholar at Ruskin College Oxford in 1945 and 1946 and worked at the TUC Economic Department from 1946 to 1948 He was a trade union member of the National Board for Prices and Incomes between 1968 and 1971 and at the same time he was the Director of the London Co operative Society From 1971 to 1974 he was a member of the Board of London Transport Executive He had been a national official of the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen He was the first Chairman of Acas from 1974 until 1981 General Secretary of the Labour Party editMortimer was General Secretary of the Labour Party between 1982 and 1985 a time of great turmoil in the Labour Party with the formation of the breakaway SDP and the rise of the Militant tendency During the 1983 general election campaign at the daily press conference on 26 May Mortimer announced that The unanimous view of the campaign committee is that Michael Foot is the leader of the Labour Party and speaks for the Party 2 It later emerged that Foot s leadership had not been discussed but created an impression that Foot needed a vote of confidence to continue The press claimed this as an own goal 1 Mortimer wrote about this in his autobiography I do not regret that at a time when there was an effort to undermine the leadership of Michael Foot I made it clear that this effort found no sympathy in Walworth Road Own Goals are more often than not the invention of journalistic chatter 2 He played an important role in the miners strike of 1984 and 1985 throwing himself into support for the miners and being given honorary membership of the NUM in recognition of his efforts Personal life editHe wrote several books including a three volume history of the boilermakers union and an autobiography A Life on the Left He had three children with Renee his first wife Hugh 1943 Jamie 1947 and Diana 1955 References edit a b Obituary Jim Mortimer telegraph co uk 24 April 2013 a b JE Mortimer A Life on the Left page 385 ISBN 1 85776 337 8 J E Mortimer A Life on the Left Lewes 1998 External links editJim Mortimer Union official and Labour s General Secretary during hard times for the Party Jim Mortimer Catalogue of Mortimer s papers held at the Modern Records Centre University of Warwick Trade union offices Preceded byJim Bradley President of the National Federation of Professional Workers1960 1962 Succeeded byLaurence Welsh Government offices New office Chair of Acas1974 1981 Succeeded byPat Lowry Party political offices Preceded byRon Hayward General Secretary of the Labour Party1982 1985 Succeeded byLarry Whitty Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jim Mortimer amp oldid 1145315906, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
