George Leonard Reakes

George Leonard Reakes J. P. (1889 - ) was a British politician. Born in Bath, Somerset, to humble circumstances. Reakes successed in becoming Major of Wallasey and later a member of parliament for Wallasey.

Reakes entered local politics while working as a journalist for a group of Cheshire newspapers. He became Coronation Mayor of Wallasey in 1937-1938. He resigned from the Labour party on the equestion of rearmament, immediately prior to the second world war

In 1942, he left his war work in the postal censorship to contest the bye-election at Wallasey. His election in this traditionally Tory seat, by an overwhelming majority, created a political sensation. Announcing "It is a victory for Churchill!" on the news of his victory (1).

Reakes was a magistrate for nearly twenty years and later became chairman of the Wallasey Juvenile Court. In 1956 he published his autobiography, "Man of the Mersey".

References

(1) Time, 11 May 1942.(2)Man of the Mersey, G. L. Reakes, 1956.

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
title = Member of Parliament for Wallasey
years = 1942–1945
before = John Moore-Brabazon
after = Ernest Marples