Ernest Armstrong (British politician)

Ernest Armstrong
Member of Parliament
for North West Durham
In office
15 October 1964 – 18 May 1987
Preceded byWilliam Ainsley
Succeeded byHilary Armstrong
Personal details
Born12 January 1915
Died8 July 1996(1996-07-08) (aged 81)
PartyLabour
ChildrenHilary
EducationWolsingham Grammar School

Ernest Armstrong (12 January 1915 – 8 July 1996) was a British Labour Party politician.[1]

Life

Armstrong was educated at Wolsingham Grammar School and City of Leeds Teacher Training College, and ultimately became a headmaster. He served as a councillor on Sunderland Borough Council and chaired its education committee.

Defeated by the Conservative incumbent in Sunderland South in the 1955 and 1959 General Elections, Armstrong was Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Durham from 1964 until his retirement in 1987.[2] His daughter, Hilary Armstrong, was his successor.[1]

Armstrong served as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) from 1965, and a Labour whip, and junior minister for Education and Science (1974–1975) and the Environment (1975–1979).

Armstrong was a Methodist local preacher and served as vice-president of the Methodist Conference in 1974.[1]

After Labour lost the 1979 general election, he served as a Deputy Speaker.[1]

After his retirement, Armstrong acted as political adviser to the BBC's production of the political drama House of Cards.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Lenton, John H. "Armstrong, Ernest, MP". A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Mr Ernest Armstrong (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2024.