Stephen Furness (Sunderland MP) facts for kids

Stephen Noel Furness (born December 18, 1902 – died April 14, 1974) was a British lawyer and politician. He was part of the Liberal National group. Furness served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunderland from 1935 to 1945. From 1938 to 1940, he also held a government role as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury.

Early Life and Education

Stephen Furness was born in 1902. He was the second son of Sir Stephen Wilson Furness. His father was also a politician, serving as a Liberal MP for The Hartlepools. Stephen had an older brother, Sir Christopher Furness, 2nd Baronet. Stephen went to Charterhouse School and then studied at Oriel College, Oxford, a famous university.

Becoming a Lawyer

After his studies, Stephen Furness became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer in the UK. He was officially allowed to practice law by Middle Temple in 1927. Middle Temple is one of the four Inns of Court in London, where barristers are trained.

Political Journey

Stephen Furness began his political career by running as a Liberal candidate. In 1929, he stood for election in The Hartlepools area of Durham. This was the same area his father had represented in Parliament years before.

First Election Attempt

In the 1929 election, the Liberal Party was trying to gain back seats across the UK. Furness came very close to winning, losing by only 138 votes. Even though he didn't win, the local Liberal group chose him to run again in the next election.

Joining the National Government

A big economic crisis hit in 1931. Because of this, a special "National Government" was formed. This government included both Liberals and Conservatives working together. A quick election was called. To help the National Government, Liberal candidates were asked not to run against sitting Conservative MPs. Stephen Furness agreed to step aside from his election race just 13 days before people voted.

Winning a Seat in Parliament

Four years later, in 1935, Furness's choice to step aside was rewarded. He was chosen to be a Liberal National candidate for the Sunderland area. Sunderland was a "dual member" seat, meaning it elected two MPs. In 1931, the Conservatives had won both seats there. In 1935, one of the Conservative MPs retired. Furness ran alongside the remaining Conservative MP. Since no other Liberal candidates ran against them, he was easily elected. He even received the most votes in Sunderland.

Roles in Government

Once in Parliament, Furness took on several important roles.

• From 1936 to 1937, he was a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Sir John Simon. Sir John Simon was the leader of the Liberal National group. This role meant Furness helped Sir John with his parliamentary duties.
• From 1937 to 1938, Furness worked as an Assistant Government Whip. Whips help make sure MPs vote the way their party wants them to.
• From 1938 to 1940, he became a Junior Lord of the Treasury. This was a more senior government position.

Leaving Government and War Service

In 1940, the National Government led by Neville Chamberlain changed. Winston Churchill then formed a new government that included different parties. Stephen Furness was no longer in a government role and became a "backbencher." This means he was a regular MP without a special government job. During this time, he also served in the military as a second lieutenant. He was part of the 1st Battalion, London Irish Rifles.

End of Political Career

When World War II ended in 1945, Furness ran for re-election in Sunderland. He again ran as a Liberal National alongside a Conservative candidate. However, the country's mood had changed, and many people voted for the Labour Party. Stephen Furness was defeated and did not win his seat back. He did not run for Parliament again after this election.