John Horner (politician)

Frederick John Horner (5 November, 1911 – 11 February, 1997) was a British firefighter, trade unionist and politician.

Earlier career

Horner won a scholarship to Sir George Monoux Grammar School in Chingford. He went to work as a trainee manager at Harrods, but soon went into the Merchant Navy where he saw rapid advancement. However, the depression of the 1930s saw a loss of ships and crews and in 1933 Horner was unemployed. He then went into the London Fire Brigade. From 1939, Horner was General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union after a left-wing takeover.

Fire Brigade Union

At the FBU, Horner led a recruiting campaign which was astoundingly successful. He pressed the wartime government for an improvement in conditions for firefighters: in 1941 he launched the "Fireman's Charter" setting out all the changes the union desired, all of which were met. Horner was briefly a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain in the post-war period, but resigned after the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956.

Parliamentary career

At the 1964 general election, Horner was elected as Labour Party Member of Parliament for Oldbury and Halesowen, and stood down from his union post. Horner allied with the left, opposing British diplomatic support for the United States over the Vietnam war, and attempts to negotiate a deal with Rhodesia. He also opposed attempts to bring in an incomes policy.

Retirement

Horner lost his seat at the 1970 general election and went into retirement at Ross-on-Wye, although he wrote a book in 1974 about industrial and trade union issues.

References

*M. Stenton and S. Lees, "Who's Who of British MPs" Vol. IV (Harvester Press, 1981)
*Obituary, "The Independent", 18 February 1997.