William Wilkins (British politician) facts for kids
William Albert Wilkins CBE (born January 17, 1899 – died May 6, 1987) was a British politician. He was a member of the Labour Party, one of the main political parties in the United Kingdom.
Contents
Early Life and Work
William Wilkins started his career working with newspapers. He was a linotype operator in Bristol. This job involved setting metal type for printing newspapers. He was also the president of the Bristol branch of the Typographical Association. This was a trade union for people who worked in printing.
Joining Politics
Wilkins became a member of the Labour Party in 1922. He then joined the Bristol City Council in 1936. The City Council is like a local government for the city of Bristol. He served on the council for ten years, helping to make decisions for the local community.
Serving in the War
During World War II, William Wilkins served in the Royal Navy. He had also served in the Navy earlier, from 1917 to 1919. In World War II, he worked as a stoker on Q-ships. These were special ships that looked like regular merchant ships but secretly carried weapons. They were used to trick enemy submarines off the Irish coast.
A Career in Parliament
In 1945, William Wilkins was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP represents the people of a specific area in the country's main government, the House of Commons. He represented the area of Bristol South. He served as an MP for a long time, until 1970.
Important Roles
Wilkins took on several important roles in government. In 1947, he became an assistant whip. A whip's job is to make sure members of their political party vote together on important issues. In 1950, he became a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. This is a government position, often involved in managing the country's money. He was also given an honor called the CBE in the 1965 New Year Honours. CBE stands for Commander of the Order of the British Empire, which is a special award given for great service.
