Joseph William AshtonOBE (9 October 1933 – 30 March 2020) was a British Labour Party politician. He took his seat in a by-election, winning with a majority of just 1.72%; in his last election before retiring, he won it by a majority of 36.4%.
The final form of his seat in the Commons (which includes Worksop and Retford), the northern quarter of Nottinghamshire near to Sheffield and Doncaster. He held it from 1968 until 2001
Ashton was born and brought up in Sheffield; he attended High Storrs Grammar School and Rotherham Technical College.[1] Before he was elected as an MP, he was a Sheffield City Councillor beginning in 1962.[2]
Ashton was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw in a by-election in 1968, when he struggled to hold the seat (which had been Labour-held since 1929) at a time when the government of Harold Wilson was unpopular. The close result saw it become a marginal seat, won by Ashton with a majority of just 740 (1.72%). The previous MP, Captain Frederick Bellenger was said to have built a personal vote through his Labour canvassing, and in the local newspapers. Having been an MP since 1935, Bellenger died mid-term in May 1968 at the age of 73. He had just been awarded the Freedom of Worksop (a town in the constituency) two days before his death.[3]
Pit closures were an important issue in a seat with a large mining sector vote. Ashton argued that the Labour government's approach, which included redundancy payments to miners over the age of 55, was better than the terms of the Conservatives when they were in power (1951–1964).[4]
In 1977, Ashton published Grass Roots, a novel about a tough steelworker who becomes a rebellious Labour MP.[5]
Later lifeedit
In March 1999, Northamptonshire's Chief Constable noted that Ashton had given misleading information to officers when in the same premises of the arrests of the perpetrators of immigration and sexual offences at a Northampton Thai massage parlour. This occurred during a police raid in November 1998. He was interviewed voluntarily and not accused of committing any offence. Ashton threatened to raise a data protection complaint. The police robustly denied that it had leaked Ashton's name; their statement said, "there were a great many other people with knowledge of this case - defendants, witnesses, legal representatives, other organisations and other individuals."[6] A director of Sheffield Wednesday football club since 1990, he resigned as a director shortly after his presence at the parlour was established.[7]
Ashton was interviewed in 2012 as part of The History of Parliament's oral history project.[1][9] His memoir, Red Rose Blues, was published in 2000.[10]
Deathedit
He died from dementia in March 2020, aged 86.[11] He is survived by his daughter, Lucy.[12]
^Ashton, Lucy (30 March 2020). "Former Sheffield councillor and long-serving Bassetlaw MP dies". TheStar.co.uk. from the original on 31 March 2020.
^"Obituary: Mr Frederick Bellenger Labour MP and former Secretary of State for War Mr Frederick Bellenger Labour MP and former Secretary of State for War". The Times. 13 May 1968. p. 12.
^Chartres, John (23 October 1968). "Miners key to Bassetlaw". The Times.
^Waugh, Paul (17 March 1999). "Chief constable: MP was in sauna". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
^"Massage parlour MP 'not resigning'". BBC News. 28 March 1999. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Joe Ashton news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Joseph William Ashton OBE 9 October 1933 30 March 2020 was a British Labour Party politician He took his seat in a by election winning with a majority of just 1 72 in his last election before retiring he won it by a majority of 36 4 Joe AshtonMember of Parliamentfor BassetlawIn office 31 October 1968 14 May 2001Preceded byFrederick BellengerSucceeded byJohn MannPersonal detailsBornJoseph William Ashton 1933 10 09 9 October 1933Sheffield West Riding of Yorkshire EnglandDied30 March 2020 2020 03 30 aged 86 Political partyLabour Contents 1 Early career 2 Parliament 3 Later life 4 Death 5 References 6 External linksEarly career edit nbsp The final form of his seat in the Commons which includes Worksop and Retford the northern quarter of Nottinghamshire near to Sheffield and Doncaster He held it from 1968 until 2001Ashton was born and brought up in Sheffield he attended High Storrs Grammar School and Rotherham Technical College 1 Before he was elected as an MP he was a Sheffield City Councillor beginning in 1962 2 Parliament editSee also 1968 Bassetlaw by election Ashton was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw in a by election in 1968 when he struggled to hold the seat which had been Labour held since 1929 at a time when the government of Harold Wilson was unpopular The close result saw it become a marginal seat won by Ashton with a majority of just 740 1 72 The previous MP Captain Frederick Bellenger was said to have built a personal vote through his Labour canvassing and in the local newspapers Having been an MP since 1935 Bellenger died mid term in May 1968 at the age of 73 He had just been awarded the Freedom of Worksop a town in the constituency two days before his death 3 Pit closures were an important issue in a seat with a large mining sector vote Ashton argued that the Labour government s approach which included redundancy payments to miners over the age of 55 was better than the terms of the Conservatives when they were in power 1951 1964 4 In 1977 Ashton published Grass Roots a novel about a tough steelworker who becomes a rebellious Labour MP 5 Later life editIn March 1999 Northamptonshire s Chief Constable noted that Ashton had given misleading information to officers when in the same premises of the arrests of the perpetrators of immigration and sexual offences at a Northampton Thai massage parlour This occurred during a police raid in November 1998 He was interviewed voluntarily and not accused of committing any offence Ashton threatened to raise a data protection complaint The police robustly denied that it had leaked Ashton s name their statement said there were a great many other people with knowledge of this case defendants witnesses legal representatives other organisations and other individuals 6 A director of Sheffield Wednesday football club since 1990 he resigned as a director shortly after his presence at the parlour was established 7 Following his retirement at the 2001 general election he was succeeded by John Mann In 2007 Ashton was appointed an OBE 8 Ashton was interviewed in 2012 as part of The History of Parliament s oral history project 1 9 His memoir Red Rose Blues was published in 2000 10 Death editHe died from dementia in March 2020 aged 86 11 He is survived by his daughter Lucy 12 References edit a b Oral history ASHTON Joe b 1933 The History of Parliament Retrieved 14 July 2016 Ashton Lucy 30 March 2020 Former Sheffield councillor and long serving Bassetlaw MP dies TheStar co uk Archived from the original on 31 March 2020 Obituary Mr Frederick Bellenger Labour MP and former Secretary of State for War Mr Frederick Bellenger Labour MP and former Secretary of State for War The Times 13 May 1968 p 12 Chartres John 23 October 1968 Miners key to Bassetlaw The Times Grass Roots Quartet Books Waugh Paul 17 March 1999 Chief constable MP was in sauna The Independent Archived from the original on 9 June 2022 Retrieved 15 August 2017 Massage parlour MP not resigning BBC News 28 March 1999 Retrieved 15 August 2017 Who s Who ukwhoswho com Joe Ashton interviewed by Henry Irving British Library Sound Archive Retrieved 14 July 2016 Hoggart Simon 28 October 2000 Doctor I think I m a pair of curtains The Guardian Retrieved 15 August 2017 Former Sheffield councillor and long serving Bassetlaw MP dies worksopguardian co uk Archived from the original on 3 April 2020 Retrieved 30 March 2020 Former Labour MP for Bassetlaw Joe Ashton dies BBC 30 March 2020 External links editHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Joe Ashton Interview BBC Radio Four 17 July 2009 Joe Ashton interview at History of Parliament OnlineParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byFrederick Bellenger Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw1968 2001 Succeeded byJohn Mann Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joe Ashton amp oldid 1168725001, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
