Joseph Westwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Westwood
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| Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 3 August 1945 – 7 October 1947 |
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| Monarch | George VI |
| Prime Minister | Clement Attlee |
| Preceded by | Earl of Rosebery |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Woodburn |
| Member of Parliament for Stirling and Falkirk | |
| In office 14 November 1935 – 17 July 1948 |
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| Preceded by | James Reid |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm MacPherson |
| Member of Parliament for Peebles and Southern Midlothian | |
| In office 15 November 1922 – 7 October 1931 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Donald Maclean |
| Succeeded by | Archibald Maule Ramsay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 February 1884 |
| Died | 17 July 1948 (aged 64) |
| Political party | Labour |
Joseph Westwood (born 11 February 1884 – died 17 July 1948) was a Scottish politician. He was a member of the Labour Party.
Joseph Westwood went to Buckhaven Higher Grade School. Before becoming a politician, he worked in different jobs. He was a draper's apprentice, a messenger boy, and a miner. From 1916 to 1918, he helped organize miners in Fife. Later, from 1918 to 1929, he worked as a political organizer for Scottish miners.
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Becoming a Member of Parliament
Joseph Westwood became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1922. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the UK Parliament. He represented the area of Peebles and Southern Midlothian. He held this seat until 1931, when he lost the election.
In 1933, he tried again in a special election for East Fife. Then, in 1935, he was elected for Stirling and Falkirk. He continued to represent this area until he passed away thirteen years later.
Important Government Roles
Joseph Westwood held several important roles in the government. From 1929, he worked as a special assistant to William Adamson. Adamson was the Secretary of State for Scotland at the time.
Westwood also served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. This role helps the main Secretary of State. He held this position twice: first in 1931, and then again from 1940 to 1945. In 1943, he became a Privy Counsellor. This is a group of important advisors to the British monarch.
His most important role was Secretary of State for Scotland. He held this job from July 1945 to October 1947. As Secretary of State, he was responsible for many things in Scotland.
Challenges as Secretary of State
During his time as Secretary of State for Scotland, Joseph Westwood faced some challenges. The government he was part of, led by Clement Attlee, focused on making decisions centrally. This meant that ideas specific to Scotland were sometimes not given as much attention.
Because of this, it was difficult for Westwood to get support for new laws or projects just for Scotland. Other Secretaries of State before him, like Tom Johnston, had found it easier to get Scottish ideas approved.
Later Life and Legacy
Joseph Westwood died in a car accident in 1948. He is buried with his wife in Dysart Cemetery, near Kirkcaldy in Fife.
