Jennie Adamson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janet Laurel Adamson
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| Member of Parliament for Bexley |
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| In office 5 July 1945 – 21 July 1946 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Ashley Bramall |
| Member of Parliament for Dartford |
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| In office 7 November 1938 – 15 June 1945 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Edward Clarke |
| Succeeded by | Norman Dodds |
| Chair of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party | |
| In office 1935–1936 |
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| Preceded by | William Albert Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Hugh Dalton |
| Member of London County Council for Lambeth North |
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| In office 8 March 1928 – 5 March 1931 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Charles Powell |
| Succeeded by | Ida Samuel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Janet Laurel Johnston
9 May 1882 Kilmarnock, Scotland |
| Died | 25 April 1962 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | William Murdoch Adamson (died 1945) |
Janet Laurel Adamson (born Johnston) was an important British politician. She was born on May 9, 1882, and passed away on April 25, 1962. Janet was a member of the Labour Party. She served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1938 to 1946. She also worked as a junior minister in the government led by Clement Attlee after World War II.
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Janet Adamson's Early Life
Janet Laurel Johnston was born on May 9, 1882. Her father was Thomas Johnston from Kirkcudbright, Scotland. In 1902, she married William Murdoch Adamson. He was a leader in the Transport and General Workers' Union. Later, he also became a Labour MP for Cannock.
Janet Adamson's Political Journey
Starting in Local Government
Janet Adamson began her political work in local government. From 1928 to 1931, she was a member of the London County Council. She represented the area of Lambeth North. She also served on the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party. This was from 1927 to 1947. She was even the chairperson of this committee from 1935 to 1936.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
Janet Adamson first tried to become an MP for Dartford in the 1935 general election. She did not win that time. The Conservative MP, Frank Clarke, kept the seat. However, his winning margin was much smaller.
Frank Clarke passed away in July 1938. This led to a special election called a by-election in November 1938. Janet Adamson ran again and won the seat. She gained a lot of support, with a 4.2% swing in votes. A "swing" means a change in how many people voted for one party over another. With her husband, she became the only husband and wife pair serving in the House of Commons at the same time.
Serving in Government
The areas that MPs represented changed for the 1945 general election. Janet Adamson was then elected for the new Bexley constituency. She won by a very large margin, getting 27% more votes than her closest opponent.
From 1940 to 1945, she worked as a Parliamentary Private Secretary. This role helps a minister with their duties. After the 1945 election, she became a Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions. This meant she was a junior minister. She worked under the main minister, Wilfred Paling, from 1945 to 1946. The Ministry of Pensions helped people who had been injured or affected by war.
Later Public Service
Janet Adamson decided to leave Parliament in 1946. She then became the Deputy Chair of the Unemployment Assistance Board. This board helped people who were out of work. She held this position from 1946 to 1953.
Her leaving Parliament caused another by-election in July 1946 for the Bexley seat. The Labour candidate, Ashley Bramall, won this election by a small number of votes. At the next general election in 1950, a future Prime Minister, Edward Heath, won the Bexley seat.
Janet Adamson passed away on April 25, 1962.
