Percy Collick facts for kids

Percy Henry Collick was an important British politician and a leader in a workers' union. He was born on November 16, 1897, and passed away on July 24, 1984. He was a member of the Labour Party.

Early Life and Union Work

Percy started his career working on trains as a railway fireman for the Southern Railway company. He was a member of a special group for train workers called the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. This group was a trade union, which helps workers with their rights and working conditions.

He held important roles in the union. From 1934 to 1940, he was an organising secretary. After that, he became the assistant general secretary in 1940. He stayed in this leadership position until he retired in 1957.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Percy Collick tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) several times. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the country's government.

His first attempt was in the 1929 general election. He ran in a place called Reigate in Surrey. This area usually voted for the Conservative Party, so it was a very difficult place for him to win. He came in third place.

He tried again in Reigate in the 1931 general election. Even though there was no Liberal Party candidate this time, he still came in second place. The Conservative candidate won by a very large number of votes. He did not run in the 1935 general election.

Winning a Seat in Parliament

In the 1945 general election, the Labour Party won a huge victory across the country. This time, Percy Collick was elected as the MP for Birkenhead West, an area in Merseyside. He won this seat from the Conservative Party, which had held it before.

The boundaries of the areas MPs represented changed for the 1950 general election. His Birkenhead West area was removed. However, he was then elected for the new Birkenhead area. He continued to represent Birkenhead in the House of Commons (which is where MPs meet) until he retired from politics in the 1964 general election.

Role in Government

After the Labour Party won the 1945 election, Clement Attlee became the Prime Minister. In Attlee's government, Percy Collick was given an important job. From 1945 to 1947, he served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. This meant he helped the government department that looked after farming and fishing in the country.