John Houfton
Sir John Plowright Houfton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Died | November 18, 1929 (aged 71) |
| Occupation(s) | Coal mine proprietor, politician |
| Years active | 1914–1929 |
| Known for | Member of Parliament for Nottingham East (1922–1923) |
Sir John Plowright Houfton (13 December 1857 – 18 November 1929) was a prominent British coal mine proprietor and political figure originating from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. His tenure as a Member of Parliament spanned from 1922 until 1923.
Houfton made his initial attempt to enter Parliament during the 1914 by-election in North East Derbyshire, standing as the Liberal candidate. This election was prompted by the passing of William Harvey, a former Liberal-Labour representative. The local Liberal Association initially intended to nominate James Martin, who served as President of the Derbyshire Miners Association; however, Martin was compelled to align with the Labour Party, leading to Houfton's selection instead. The contest featured three candidates, with Houfton narrowly defeated by Conservative George Bowden, who won by a margin of 314 votes (1.9%). Labour's Martin secured 22.5% of the vote.
Houfton re-entered the political arena in 1922 as the Coalition Unionist candidate for the Nottingham East by-election, which occurred following the death of Sir J. D. Rees. Supported by the coalition government under Liberal leader David Lloyd George, Houfton achieved victory with 52% of the ballots cast and a majority of 4,973 votes (25%) over the Labour Co-operative contender. He successfully retained his seat in the December 1922 general election but was unseated in 1923 by Liberal Norman Birkett.
In the aftermath of the 1926 general strike, Houfton attracted criticism from Labour MP Frank Varley due to his unilateral negotiations with coal miners in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, conducted without authorization from the Miners Federation of Great Britain.
In recognition of his contributions to politics and public service, Houfton was knighted in 1929.
External links
- The Houfton Brothers and Mansfield: http://www.ourmansfieldandarea.org.uk/page_id__202_path__0p3p.aspx