Robert Sheldon, Baron Sheldon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Sheldon
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Sheldon in 2011
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| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | |
| In office 17 June 1975 – 4 May 1979 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | John Gilbert |
| Succeeded by | Nigel Lawson |
| Minister of State for the Treasury | |
| In office 18 October 1974 – 17 June 1975 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | John Nott |
| Succeeded by | Denzil Davies |
| Minister of State for the Civil Service Department | |
| In office 7 April 1974 – 18 October 1974 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Kenneth Baker Geoffrey Johnson-Smith |
| Succeeded by | Charles Morris |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| In office 22 June 2001 – 18 May 2015 Life Peerage |
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| Member of Parliament for Ashton under Lyne |
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| In office 15 October 1964 – 14 May 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Hervey Rhodes |
| Succeeded by | David Heyes |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Isaac Ezra Shamash
13 September 1923 Manchester, England |
| Died | 2 February 2020 (aged 96) |
| Political party | Labour (from 1945) |
| Spouses |
Eileen Shamash
(m. 1945; died 1969)Mary Sheldon
(m. 1971) |
| Children | 2 |
Robert Edward Sheldon, Baron Sheldon was a British politician. He was born Isaac Ezra Shamash on 13 September 1923. He passed away on 2 February 2020. He was a member of the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashton under Lyne from 1964 to 2001. Later, he became a life peer, which means he was given a special title and a seat in the House of Lords for life.
Early Life and Education
Isaac Ezra Shamash was born in Manchester, England. His family were Jewish immigrants from Iraq. His father, Meir, worked as a textile exporter. In 1943, he officially changed his name by deed poll to Robert Edward Sheldon.
Sheldon went to Burnley Grammar School. He studied engineering at technical colleges in Burnley and Stockport. He also earned a degree from the University of London. In 1945, he joined the Labour Party. He later became a Manchester City Councillor, helping to make decisions for the city. He also worked as a director in his family's textile business.
A Career in Politics
Sheldon first tried to become an MP in 1959. He was then elected as the MP for Ashton under Lyne in the 1964 general election. This meant he represented the people of that area in the House of Commons.
During the 1960s, Sheldon had strong opinions on money matters. He supported lowering the value of the British pound. This was a big disagreement with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the person in charge of the country's money). When the Chancellor did not answer his question about it in Parliament, it caused problems for the pound's value.
Sheldon was also a strong supporter of Britain being part of the EU. He believed Britain should join the European Common Market. Later, he also wanted Britain to join the European Monetary Union, which would mean using the same currency as other European countries. He was known for working closely with fellow MPs Joel Barnett and Edmund Dell.
In 1974, when the Labour Party came back into power, Sheldon became the Civil Service Minister. This role involved looking after government workers. Later that year, he became a Minister of State for the Treasury, helping with the country's finances. From 1975 to 1979, he was promoted to Financial Secretary to the Treasury, an even more important role in managing the nation's money. In 1977, he became a Privy Counsellor, a special advisor to the Queen.
After 1979, he continued to play important roles in Parliament. From 1981 to 1983, he was the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. This meant he was the main opposition spokesperson on financial matters. He then became the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). This committee checks how the government spends public money. In his last years as an MP, he chaired the Liaison Committee and the Standards and Privileges Committee. These committees help manage Parliament's work and rules.
Sheldon stepped down as an MP in 2001. He was then given the title of Baron Sheldon. This made him a life peer and gave him a seat in the House of Lords. He retired from the House of Lords in 2015.
Family and Later Life
In 1945, Sheldon married his first cousin, Eileen Shamash. They had a son and a daughter together. Eileen passed away in 1969. In 1971, he married Mary Shield. His daughter, Gill Sargeant, later became a Labour Councillor in Barnet.
In 2000, he had a heart attack on the street. Luckily, a former Olympic swimmer named Duncan Goodhew was passing by and helped save his life. Robert Edward Sheldon passed away from a heart attack on 2 February 2020.
