Leslie Seymour
Leslie George Seymour | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament forBirmingham Sparkbrook | |
| In office 8 October 1959 – 25 September 1964 | |
| Preceded by | Percy Shurmer |
| Succeeded by | Roy Hattersley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 November 1900 |
| Died | 15 April 1976(aged 75) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Education | Solihull Grammar School |
| Occupation |
|
| Known for | MPforBirmingham Sparkbrook |
| Awards | HonoraryAldermanof Birmingham |
Leslie George Seymour,JP(1 November 1900 – 15 April 1976) was a British company director and politician from the city ofBirmingham.
Educated at Solihull Grammar School, Seymour left school at the age of 14 to work in a laboratory at a technical school. He then went into manufacturing industries, and became Managing Director of Improved Metallic Appliances Ltd. He was also involved inConservative Partypolitics and was elected toBirmingham City CouncilfromSmall Heathward in 1937. After losing his seat in 1946, he returned to the council fromRotton Park Wardin 1947 for two further terms before again being defeated in 1954. He specialised in the more mundane aspects of local government such as rating and valuation, although he was chair of the Civil Defence Committee in 1944.
Seymour was Conservative candidate in the safe Labour seat ofBirmingham Ladywoodat the1951 general election.At the1959 general election,he foughtBirmingham Sparkbrook:the Labour incumbentPercy Shurmerhad died shortly before polling day, and Seymour managed to defeat his underprepared successor as candidate.
A low-profile MP, Seymour was an instinctive right-winger and at the1964 general electionhe called for legal restrictions on coloured immigration in overcrowded areas such as Sparkbrook. The Labour Party candidateRoy Hattersleywas strongly opposed to racialism and regained the seat. After failing to regain his seat at the1966 general election,Seymour retired. In 1974 he was made an HonoraryAldermanof Birmingham.
References
[edit]- M. Stenton and S. Lees, "Who's Who of British MPs" Vol. IV (Harvester Press, 1981)
- "Birmingham Votes" by Christopher Phillips
- Obituary,The Times,21 April 1976.