Sir John Vigers Worthington (28 December 1872 – 16 June 1951) was a British surgeon and businessman, who later went into politics. After securing a remarkable election victory he served in Parliament in the early-1930s, being an unpaid assistant to Prime MinisterRamsay MacDonald. His mining constituency suffered particular difficulties in the depression and despite his efforts to help, he was defeated in his bid for re-election.
Worthington's family came from Lowestoft, Suffolk,[1] and his father was a surgeon. He was sent to public school, beginning at Woodbridge School and then at Haileybury.[2] Worthington initially sought to follow his father's profession, studying medicine at London Hospital Medicine School. In 1892 Worthington won a £3 prize in practical anatomy;[3] he qualified as a surgeon in 1895 by taking the conjoint diploma.[1] He found employment as an assistant demonstrator in anatomy at the school, and was also official surgeon to the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.[4]
Business career
Dissatisfied with medicine as a career, in 1901 Worthington left to join Dunlop Rubber Company with whom he remained for 20 years. He worked as a technical superintendent of factories, and in March 1916 was appointed as a Director of the company;[5] he also became a Director of Dunlop America. He was technical superintendent of the company for two years,[1] but owing to ill health he was forced to resign from that position and from his directorships in October 1920.[6] He was later associated with the Moran Tea Company.[7]
Politics
According to Worthington's obituary in The Times, he was dissatisfied with the economic policies of the Labour government, a dissatisfaction which increased after the report of the May Committee.[1] He decided to stand for Parliament and joined with the group of Labour Party members who supported Ramsay MacDonald's decision to form the National Government. After a general election was called in October 1931, Worthington was adopted as the National Labour candidate for Forest of Dean division; simultaneously the division's adopted Conservative Party candidate Richard Tufnell, withdrew from the election.[8] Worthington had a straight fight with the sitting Labour MP, David Vaughan, and succeeded in winning the election with a majority of 1,524, regarded as an "outstanding result" by The Times;[9] four years later it was described as the most remarkable victory in the West of England.[10]
Parliament
Soon after the new Parliament assembled, in December 1931 Worthington accepted the offer from Ramsay MacDonald to act as his Parliamentary Private Secretary, an unpaid post which required him to keep in touch with the opinion of Government-supporting backbencher Members of Parliament about MacDonald and advise MacDonald how to maintain support.[2] Busy with this duty it was not until April 1932 that he made his maiden speech in support of the Wheat Bill which brought in a subsidy to farmers growing wheat.[11] The next month he called attention to the good example set by Parliament using smokeless fuel and said that he would support legislation to make smokeless fuel compulsory for London houses above a certain rental level.[12] Worthington also strongly supported the use of hire purchase as "thoroughly good and sound business".[13]
A serious illness in 1933 restricted Worthington's political activity,[14] and early in 1934 he had to deal with a severe economic blow to his constituency when the owners of Lightmoor Colliery at Cinderford gave notice of its closure. Worthington arranged a conference with their representatives, who agreed to delay closure in the hope that the workers could transfer to the nearby Northern United Colliery when it was ready to open.[15] He strongly supported the Depressed Areas (Development and Improvement) Bill late in 1934, while calling for its scope to be extended to include his own constituency.[16] He supported increased import duties on steel, criticising the steelmakers for their "complete indifference" to the ore miners and hoping that the increased duties would get the mines in the Forest of Dean working again.[17]
Defeat
In the early summer of 1934, Worthington took the initiative in setting up a "National Committee" in Forest of Dean which would allow his own supporters in National Labour to meet with local members of the Conservative Party and Liberal Nationals, with a view to making co-operation easier.[18] When Ramsay MacDonald retired as Prime Minister in June 1935, Worthington (who had remained his Parliamentary Private Secretary throughout) was given a Knighthood in MacDonald's retirement honours list. He faced strong opposition at the 1935 general election, given the Labour Party tradition of the constituency and the adoption of a local candidate. Against Worthington's help for local industries, his Labour opponents pointed to the means test, economic difficulties in the mines, and the need for a reorganisation in the mining industry.[10] Worthington was defeated by 4,431 votes.[19]
Worthington remained interested in politics and worried in 1936 that the National Government would struggle to retain its support among progressive voters, especially if its candidates had to stand as Conservatives.[20] When the National Labour minister J. H. Thomas resigned his seat at Derby shortly afterwards, Worthington was expected to be named as the National Labour candidate for the ensuing by-election.[21] However Worthington did not run; he remained Deputy Chairman of the National Labour Organisation.[22]
References
^ abcd"Sir John Worthington" (obituary), The Times, 18 June 1951, p. 6.
^ abMichael Stenton and Stephen Lees, "Who's Who of British Members of Parliament" Volume III (Harvester, 1979), p. 392-3.
^"The Medical Schools, Prizes", The Times, 29 August 1892, p. 5.
john, worthington, british, politician, john, vigers, worthington, december, 1872, june, 1951, british, surgeon, businessman, later, went, into, politics, after, securing, remarkable, election, victory, served, parliament, early, 1930s, being, unpaid, assistan. Sir John Vigers Worthington 28 December 1872 16 June 1951 was a British surgeon and businessman who later went into politics After securing a remarkable election victory he served in Parliament in the early 1930s being an unpaid assistant to Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald His mining constituency suffered particular difficulties in the depression and despite his efforts to help he was defeated in his bid for re election SirJohn Vigers WorthingtonMPMember of Parliamentfor Forest of DeanIn office 1931 1935Preceded byDavid VaughanSucceeded byM Philips PriceMajority1 524Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime MinisterIn office 1931 1935Serving with Ralph Glyn 1931 1935 Frank Markham 1931 1932 Prime MinisterRamsay McDonaldPreceded byRobert MorrisonSucceeded byGeoffrey LloydPersonal detailsBornJohn Vigers Worthington 1872 12 28 28 December 1872Died16 June 1951 1951 06 16 aged 78 Political partyNational LabourEducationWoodbridge School Suffolk Haileybury School HertsAlma materLondon Hospital Medicine SchoolOccupationSurgeon Contents 1 Medical training 2 Business career 3 Politics 4 Parliament 5 Defeat 6 References 7 External linksMedical training EditWorthington s family came from Lowestoft Suffolk 1 and his father was a surgeon He was sent to public school beginning at Woodbridge School and then at Haileybury 2 Worthington initially sought to follow his father s profession studying medicine at London Hospital Medicine School In 1892 Worthington won a 3 prize in practical anatomy 3 he qualified as a surgeon in 1895 by taking the conjoint diploma 1 He found employment as an assistant demonstrator in anatomy at the school and was also official surgeon to the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen 4 Business career EditDissatisfied with medicine as a career in 1901 Worthington left to join Dunlop Rubber Company with whom he remained for 20 years He worked as a technical superintendent of factories and in March 1916 was appointed as a Director of the company 5 he also became a Director of Dunlop America He was technical superintendent of the company for two years 1 but owing to ill health he was forced to resign from that position and from his directorships in October 1920 6 He was later associated with the Moran Tea Company 7 Politics EditAccording to Worthington s obituary in The Times he was dissatisfied with the economic policies of the Labour government a dissatisfaction which increased after the report of the May Committee 1 He decided to stand for Parliament and joined with the group of Labour Party members who supported Ramsay MacDonald s decision to form the National Government After a general election was called in October 1931 Worthington was adopted as the National Labour candidate for Forest of Dean division simultaneously the division s adopted Conservative Party candidate Richard Tufnell withdrew from the election 8 Worthington had a straight fight with the sitting Labour MP David Vaughan and succeeded in winning the election with a majority of 1 524 regarded as an outstanding result by The Times 9 four years later it was described as the most remarkable victory in the West of England 10 Parliament EditSoon after the new Parliament assembled in December 1931 Worthington accepted the offer from Ramsay MacDonald to act as his Parliamentary Private Secretary an unpaid post which required him to keep in touch with the opinion of Government supporting backbencher Members of Parliament about MacDonald and advise MacDonald how to maintain support 2 Busy with this duty it was not until April 1932 that he made his maiden speech in support of the Wheat Bill which brought in a subsidy to farmers growing wheat 11 The next month he called attention to the good example set by Parliament using smokeless fuel and said that he would support legislation to make smokeless fuel compulsory for London houses above a certain rental level 12 Worthington also strongly supported the use of hire purchase as thoroughly good and sound business 13 A serious illness in 1933 restricted Worthington s political activity 14 and early in 1934 he had to deal with a severe economic blow to his constituency when the owners of Lightmoor Colliery at Cinderford gave notice of its closure Worthington arranged a conference with their representatives who agreed to delay closure in the hope that the workers could transfer to the nearby Northern United Colliery when it was ready to open 15 He strongly supported the Depressed Areas Development and Improvement Bill late in 1934 while calling for its scope to be extended to include his own constituency 16 He supported increased import duties on steel criticising the steelmakers for their complete indifference to the ore miners and hoping that the increased duties would get the mines in the Forest of Dean working again 17 Defeat EditIn the early summer of 1934 Worthington took the initiative in setting up a National Committee in Forest of Dean which would allow his own supporters in National Labour to meet with local members of the Conservative Party and Liberal Nationals with a view to making co operation easier 18 When Ramsay MacDonald retired as Prime Minister in June 1935 Worthington who had remained his Parliamentary Private Secretary throughout was given a Knighthood in MacDonald s retirement honours list He faced strong opposition at the 1935 general election given the Labour Party tradition of the constituency and the adoption of a local candidate Against Worthington s help for local industries his Labour opponents pointed to the means test economic difficulties in the mines and the need for a reorganisation in the mining industry 10 Worthington was defeated by 4 431 votes 19 Worthington remained interested in politics and worried in 1936 that the National Government would struggle to retain its support among progressive voters especially if its candidates had to stand as Conservatives 20 When the National Labour minister J H Thomas resigned his seat at Derby shortly afterwards Worthington was expected to be named as the National Labour candidate for the ensuing by election 21 However Worthington did not run he remained Deputy Chairman of the National Labour Organisation 22 References Edit a b c d Sir John Worthington obituary The Times 18 June 1951 p 6 a b Michael Stenton and Stephen Lees Who s Who of British Members of Parliament Volume III Harvester 1979 p 392 3 The Medical Schools Prizes The Times 29 August 1892 p 5 The Times House of Commons 1931 p 75 Sir William Goff and Dunlops The Times 21 March 1916 p 10 Dunlop Rubber Troubles The Times 3 February 1921 p 15 WORTHINGTON Sir John Vigers Who Was Who A amp C Black 1920 2008 online edn OUP Dec 2007 accessed 17 Oct 2009 New Candidates The Times 16 October 1931 p 9 The West Country The Times 29 October 1931 p 8 a b National Labour in the West The Times 8 November 1935 p 9 Hansard HC 5ser vol 264 cols 400 4 Parliament The Times 4 May 1932 p 8 Hire Purchase letter The Times 29 June 1932 p 8 Invalids The Times 30 August 1933 p 10 Forest of Dean Pit Closing The Times 26 February 1934 p 11 Parliament The Times 4 December 1934 p 7 Parliament The Times 13 April 1935 p 7 National Committees The Times 10 July 1934 p 11 The Times House of Commons 1935 p 98 The Left Front letter The Times 30 May 1936 p 8 The Derby Contest The Times 18 June 1936 p 9 New National Labour Headquarters The Times 19 October 1937 p 18 External links EditHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by John WorthingtonParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byDavid Vaughan Member of Parliament for Forest of Dean1931 1935 Succeeded byM Philips PriceGovernment officesPreceded byRobert Morrison Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister1931 1935 serving alongside Ralph Glyn 1931 1935 and Frank Markham 1931 1932 Succeeded byGeoffrey Lloyd Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Worthington British politician amp oldid 1087603319, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
