Tom Fraser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Fraser
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|---|---|
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 16 October 1964 – 23 December 1965 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Ernest Marples |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Castle |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 4 August 1945 – 26 October 1951 Served with George Buchanan, John Robertson and Margaret Herbison. |
|
| Monarch | George VI |
| Prime Minister | Clement Attlee |
| Sec. of State | Joseph Westwood |
| Chairman of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board | |
| In office May 1967 – January 1979 |
|
| Preceded by | The Lord Strathclyde |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Greenhill of Harrow |
| Member of Parliament for Hamilton |
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| In office 29 January 1943 – 14 October 1967 |
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| Preceded by | Duncan Macgregor Graham |
| Succeeded by | Winnie Ewing |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 February 1911 |
| Died | 21 November 1988 (aged 77) |
| Political party | Labour |
Thomas Fraser (born February 18, 1911 – died November 21, 1988) was a Scottish coal miner who became a politician. He was a member of the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Hamilton area from 1943 to 1967.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Thomas Fraser was born in Kirkmuirhill, Scotland. His parents were Thomas and Mary Fraser.
He went to Lesmahagow Higher Grade School. When he was 14, he started working as a coal miner. He worked underground until he became a politician.
Before becoming an MP, Fraser was involved in his local trade union. He was also a secretary for the Labour Party in his area.
Political Journey
Becoming an MP
Fraser became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1943. He won a special election in the Hamilton constituency. He beat another candidate by a lot of votes.
Working for Scotland
After the Labour Party won the election in 1945, Fraser got an important job. He became the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. This meant he helped manage affairs in Scotland. He held this role until 1951.
In Opposition
When his party was not in power, Fraser continued to work for Scotland. He was the main spokesperson for Scottish affairs for many years. This role is like a "shadow" minister, preparing for when the party might be in government again.
Minister of Transport
In 1964, the Labour Party won another election. Thomas Fraser was then made Minister of Transport. He was in charge of transport in the UK from October 1964 to December 1965.
One big change he made was introducing a 70 mph (113 km/h) speed limit on motorways. This was done quickly after several accidents in foggy conditions.
He also had to deal with railway line closures. These closures were based on a report called the Beeching Report. Fraser approved the closure of many miles of railway lines. However, he also decided to keep some lines open that were planned for closure, like the West Highland Line.
Leaving Parliament
In May 1967, Thomas Fraser left Parliament. He became the chairman of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. This board was in charge of generating electricity using water power in northern Scotland.
His resignation led to a special election in Hamilton. This election was won by Winnie Ewing from the Scottish National Party. This was a very important moment in Scottish politics.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1964, Thomas Fraser became a Privy Counsellor. This is a special honor given to senior politicians.
He also served on the Wheatley Commission. This group helped change how local government worked in Scotland.
Thomas Fraser retired to Lesmahagow, the town where he had worked as a miner. He passed away in 1988 after a short illness. People in Hamilton still remembered him with great respect after he died.
Family Life
Thomas Fraser married Janet Scanlon in 1935. They lived in Lesmahagow. They had a son and a daughter together.
