Bessie Braddock

Elizabeth Margaret Braddock JP (Liverpool, 24 September 1899 – 13 November 1970), better known as Bessie Braddock, was a British Labour politician.

Born Elizabeth Bamber, Braddock's mother was Mary 'Ma' Bamber, also an active woman in Liverpool politics. The younger Bamber first joined the Communist Party of Great Britain but left, reportedly due to their lack of commitment to democracy. She joined the Labour Party and in 1922 married John 'Jack' Braddock, also a member. Jack would later become leader of Liverpool City Council from 1955 to 1961 and again in May 1963. Bessie herself became a councillor in 1930 for St.Anne's Ward, and in 1945 she became president of the Liverpool Trades Council and Labour Party. She was a member of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers for many years. During World War II she worked as an ambulance assistant officer.

Braddock was elected Member of Parliament for Liverpool Exchange at the 1945 election and served for 24 years. She was a member of the Labour Party National Executive Committee and served as vice-chairman of the Labour Party in 1968.

Braddock was known as an ardent socialist and fiery campaigner, nicknamed 'Battling Bessie'. Her special interests included maternity, child welfare and youth crime.

Braddock was granted the Freedom of the City of Liverpool in 1970, shortly before her death.She gave Peter Carter-Ruck his start in the libel trade, when she sued the "Bolton Evening Post" who said she had "danced a jig on the floor of the House of Commons". Some credit [ [http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill#Anecdotal_dialogue Winston Churchill - Anecdotal dialogue] , Wikiquote, accessed 21 September 2008] Braddock with a famous exchange with Winston Churchill, which others ascribe to Nancy Astor:Fact|date=June 2007
"Braddock:" "Mr. Churchill, this is a disgrace. You are quite drunk."
"Churchill:" "And you, madame, are ugly. As for my condition, it will pass by the morning. You, however, will still be ugly."

As Lady Astor was renowned for her beauty, whereas Braddock was notably plain, it is far more likely that this exchange took place between Churchill and Braddock.

Trivia

Braddock was in part the inspiration for the character Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC TV series "Keeping Up Appearances".

External links and References

* [http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/ Liverpool Pictorial Article]
* [http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=ConNarrative.154 Biography at PortCities Liverpool]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies BBC]
* Listen to [http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/white/5036_white.shtml "Rebels : Bessie Braddock'] at the [http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive BBC archive]