Barnett Janner
James Henry Hall | |
---|---|
Succeeded by | James Henry Hall |
Personal details | |
Born | Luokė, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire | 20 June 1892
Died | 4 May 1982 | (aged 89)
Spouses |
Elsie Sybil Cohen (m. 1927) |
Barnett Janner, Baron Janner (20 June 1892 – 4 May 1982), was a British politician who was elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) and later as a Labour MP.[1][2]
Early life
Janner was born to a
Janner was educated at the local school before obtaining a scholarship to attend the
Liberal politics
Janner entered politics in 1920 when he stood unsuccessfully for election to Cardiff City Council as a candidate of the Comrades of the Great War. Three years later he had joined the Liberal Party, but again failed to gain a seat on the council.[1][2] In 1926 he was elected to the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and subsequently became a member of the executive of the British Zionist Federation.[2]
At the 1929 general election he was the Liberal candidate for Cardiff Central, but failed to be elected. Later in the year he moved to Hendon, north London, and took up employment as company secretary and solicitor for his father-in-law's business.[2]
In 1930, Harry Gosling, the sitting Labour MP for the Whitechapel and St George's constituency in the East End of London died. Janner was chosen to contest the resulting by-election. The area had a large Jewish population, and he campaigned in opposition to the government's policy on Palestine, but was narrowly defeated.[2] Ten months later at the 1931 general election Janner again contested the Whitechapel seat for the Liberals, this time being returned to the House of Commons. At the next general election in 1935 Janner stood as a Liberal and Anti-Fascist candidate, but was one of many Liberals to lose their seats, with the Labour Party regaining the seat.[2]
Labour politics
Within a year of losing his seat as a Liberal, Janner had joined the
Janner returned to Parliament ten years later, when he was elected at the 1945 general election as Labour MP for Leicester West, defeating Harold Nicolson the incumbent National Labour MP. When that constituency was abolished for the 1950 election, he was re-elected for the new Leicester North West constituency. He held that seat until he retired from the Commons at the 1970 general election, when his seat was held for Labour by his son Greville.
Knighted in 1961,[3] Janner was created a life peer on 20 June 1970 and took the title Baron Janner, of the City of Leicester.[4]
Jewish community
Janner held many positions in the
Personal life
In 1927, Janner married Elsie Sybil Cohen, daughter of the owner of a furniture store. Their son Greville Janner,
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Lord Janner Tireless champion of Jewish causes". The Times. 6 May 1982. p. 14.
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31285. Retrieved 21 October 2021. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ "No. 42274". The London Gazette. 10 February 1961. p. 1015.
- ^ "No. 45137". The London Gazette. 26 June 1970. p. 7103.
- ^ Freedland, Michael (21 July 1994). "Obituary: Elsie Janner". The Independent. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
Bibliography
- Elsie Janner, Barnett Janner: A Personal Portrait. London: Robson Books, 1984
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages [better source needed]
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
- Who Was Who