Thomas Richards (Welsh politician)

For other people named Thomas Richards, see Thomas Richards (disambiguation).

Thomas Richards
Thomas Richards in the mid-1900s
Member of Parliament
for West Monmouthshire (1904–1918)
Ebbw Vale (1918–1920)
In office
1904 (West Monmouthshire)
1918 (Ebbw Vale) – 1918 (West Monmouthshire)
1920 (Ebbw Vale)
Preceded bySir William Vernon Harcourt (West Monmouthshire)
New constituency (Ebbw Vale)
Succeeded byConstituency abolished (West Monmouthshire)
Evan Davies (Ebbw Vale)
Secretary of the South Wales Miners' Federation
In office
1898–1931
Preceded byNew position
Succeeded byOliver Harris
President of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain
In office
1929–1930
Preceded byHerbert Smith
Succeeded byEbby Edwards
Vice-President of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain
In office
1924–1929
Preceded byStephen Walsh
Succeeded byEbby Edwards
Agent for the Ebbw Vale District of the South Wales Miners' Federation
In office
1898–1901
Preceded byNew position
Succeeded byWilliam Vyce
Personal details
Born(1859-06-08)8 June 1859
Beaufort, Wales
Died7 November 1931(1931-11-07) (aged 72)
Political partyLiberal-Labour (1904–1909)
Labour (1909–1920)
EducationBeaufort British School
OccupationCoal miner, trade unionist, politician
English Wikisource has original works by or about:

Thomas Richards PC (8 June 1859 – 7 November 1931) was a Welsh trade unionist and politician.

Born in Beaufort, Richards was educated at the Beaufort British School, before becoming a coal miner at the age of twelve. In 1884, he was the main founder of the Ebbw Vale and Sirhowy Colliery Workmen's Association, serving as its secretary and agent. The association became part of the South Wales Miners' Federation in 1898, Richards continuing as agent of its Ebbw Vale District until 1901, while also becoming the first general secretary of the South Wales Miners' Federation.[1]

Richards was a supporter of the Liberal-Labour movement, and was elected to Monmouthshire County Council in 1904. That year, he won a by-election to become Member of Parliament for West Monmouthshire. In 1909, he was instructed by his trade union to resign the Liberal whip and take the Labour whip and at both the 1910 General Elections he stood as a Labour candidate. He held the seat until its abolition at the 1918 general election, when he was elected for the new Ebbw Vale constituency. He resigned from Parliament in 1920.[1]

Out of Parliament, Richards devoted his time to the South Wales Miners' Federation, and the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB). He represented them on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress from 1925, and served as President of the MFGB from 1929 to 1930.[1]

Richards was made a Privy Councillor in 1918.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Stenton, Michael; Lees, Stephen (1979). Who's Who of British Members of Parliament. Vol. III. Brighton: Harvester Press. p. 302. ISBN 0855273259.


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