Henry Price (politician)

Henry Alfred Price, CBE (3 January, 1911 – 4 December, 1982) was a British company director and politician. He came from a working-class background but did well in business in the paper trade, where he set up his own business. He became a Conservative Party Member of Parliament, during which he founded an alliance to protect the middle class.

Family origin

Price was the son of a builder's labourer and was born in London. He attended Hungerford Road School and Holloway County School but left at the age of 15 to join a paper manufacturer. Later he set up his own business, Price, Topley and Company Ltd, who were paper merchants.

Municipal life

He became an active member of the Conservative Party and in 1944 he was co-opted as a member of Lewisham Borough Council, elections having been suspended for the duration of the Second World War. He enjoyed municipal life and in 1946 he was chosen as Conservative candidate for Lewisham West for the London County Council. He was elected by 578 votes. "The New L.C.C.", "The Times", 9 March 1946.] This gave Price a prominent role in London-wide Conservative politics. After boundary changes, Price was re-elected in 1949. Alan Willis and John Woollard, "Twentieth Century Local Election Results" vol. 1, Local Government Chronicle Elections Centre, 2000.]

Parliament

At the 1950 general election, Price was chosen as Conservative candidate for Lewisham West. He gained the seat from Arthur Skeffington, who had held it as a Labour MP. His maiden speech on 22 May dwelt on the subject of high housing rents; he urged that the period for repayment of public works loans be lengthened from 60 to 80 years. "Parliament", "The Times", 23 May 1950.] Fighting for re-election in 1951, Price reported that his audiences were "flabbergasted" to learn the high level of spending by the Labour government. "Mr. Morrison's 'Scrambler'", "The Times", 17 October 1951.]

Advancement

After his re-election, Price was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Geoffrey Lloyd. In September 1952 he volunteered to spend a week with trainee miners in the Kemball Training Centre, near Stoke-on-Trent. "Working with miners", The Times, Tuesday, Sep 16, 1952.] Afterwards he was critical of the sleeping arrangements in the miners' hostel. "M.P.'s Criticism Of Miners' Hostel", "The Times", 20 September 1952.] He was chosen to second the "Loyal Address" after the Queen's Speech, traditionally a role given to rising MPs on the government backbenches. "Dinner Parties For The Government", "The Times", 31 October 1952.]

Price was critical of the facilities available to MPs, claiming to work over 100 hours a week but that his pay amounted to 2s per hour; he said that MPs were "treated like grubby office boys". "M.P.s 'Underpaid And Overworked'", "The Times", 13 December 1952.] He was a member of a Parliamentary delegation to NATO in 1954. "Knowledge Of N.A.T.O.", "The Times", 15 January 1954.] Price was involved in organising the presentation to Winston Churchill of a portrait by Graham Sutherland to mark his eightieth birthday; "Parliamentary Tribute To Sir W. Churchill", "The Times", 23 July 1954.] this gift backfired as Churchill hated the portrait and his wife had it burnt.

Middle Class Alliance

In December 1954, it was announced that the London County Council would be seeking a Compulsory purchase order for Price's home in Forest Hill for a new housing scheme. "Compulsory order sought for M.P.'s house", "The Times", 18 December 1954.] Price was critical of the way trade unions operated, claiming in a speech in February 1956 that a majority of workers in the country were forcing inefficient working methods on management. "Parliament", "The Times", 22 February 1956.] In April that year he had the idea for forming a "Middle Class Alliance", which was quickly established. "Formation Of 'Middle Class Alliance'", "The Times", 24 April 1956.] He declared the aim of the Alliance was not selfish but "to preserve the middle classes for the service of the nation". "Middle Class Alliance", "The Times", 25 April 1956.]

Price's term as Chairman of the Alliance came to an abrupt end in early 1957 when he offered his resignation after a split; two executive members who were supporters of the Liberal Party had been planning a breakaway. "Dispute In Middle Class Alliance", "The Times", 21 February 1957.] On 18 March, the Alliance was formally dissolved. "End of Middle Class Alliance", "The Times", 19 March 1957.] He spent a great deal of time in the late 1950s opposing the Rent Act 1957.

Retirement

"Indifferent health" forced Price to announce in July 1961 that he would not be a candidate at the next general election. "The Times", 13 July 1961.] He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1962. Late in his Parliamentary career he attempted to amend the London Government Bill to stop the merger of Lewisham with Deptford to create the London Borough of Lewisham. He rebelled against the whip on the abolition of resale price maintenance in 1964. Philip Norton, "Dissension in the House of Commons 1945-74", Macmillan, 1975.]

He became Managing Director of Grove Paper Company Ltd. after leaving Parliament in 1964.

References

*M. Stenton and S. Lees, "Who's Who of British MPs" Vol. IV (Harvester Press, 1981)
*"Who Was Who", A & C Black