O'BRIEN, William. (Normanton) Lab. majority 7,287
གམཱས སྱཱམརཱུ བྷསྶ
B. Jan. 25, 1929; ed. State schools and Leeds University; married (3d). Coalminer. Member NUM 1945–. Member Wakefield Council 1973- and Deputy Leader. Member Public Accounts Cttee. Front Bench Spokesman on Environment 1988-. Recreations: Reading, organising. Member for Normanton since June 1983.-House of Commons, SWIA OAA (01-219 3000).
"Bill" (William) O'BRIEN Labour
D
beat
TR
Majority
Description
NORMANTON 83-
4,183 over Conservative 4-way Declining West Yorkshire mining area Southeast of Leads to which has been added the wool weaving town of Ossett, formerly in Dewsbury, making it less Labour-safe
Ex: Wakefield District Councillor,
Position
(Deputy Leader 74-83) 73-83
Outlook ex-miner
Moderate
West
an
Yorkshire local with the practical approach of experienced local councillor; "I am not extreme in any way"
History
Joined NUM and Labour Party 45; elected to Wakefield District Council May 173; Scargill's candidate Henry Daley to succeed retiring NUM-sponsored Franco-supporter Albert Roberts, saying: "I support Tony Benn on some issues but I disagree with him on others" Apr '82; elected for Normanton June 83; in Maiden, urged that council houses should be sold only on voluntary basis co-nominated Roy Hattersley for Leader of Labour Party Sep
sa id that reductions in coal tonnage should come from opencast, not deepis
and not compulsorily by government July 183
183;
a
mines; maintained that 99% of mines said to be starved
of
Dec
uneconomic were only investment
83; worried that the proposed, indirectly-elected local authority joint boards would, like water authorities, be replaced by Government appointees Jan 84; condemned the Rates (capping) Bill as a serious challenge threatening its stability and suggested it should be re-named the 84; objected to the
"Direct Rule Bill" Feb
take-away fish and chips Apr 184; urged coalminers' strike June (84; worried about
to local government,
imposition of VAT on arbitration to end the government's lack of
realistic and practical arrangements for the effective transfer of functions resulting from the abolition of the GLC and metropolitan counties Nov 84; criticized rating inequalities Jan '85
Born
Family
Education
Occupation
in Yorkshire
Traits
25 January 1929, Castleford, Yorkshire
M Jean; 3d
State Schools; Leeds University (extramural)
Ex: coalface worker at Glass Houghton Colliery, Castleford 45-83; (NUM branch secretary)
Bluff; cheery; strong chin; thinning grey hair; thickening
waist; reads his speeches
Address Telephone
4 Elizabeth Drive, Ferrybridge, Knottingley, W Yorks 01 219 3492 (H of C)