CENTENARY OF THE ELECTION OF WILLS CROOKS MP

Early day motion 878, tabled 12 March 2003 by Clive Efford (Labour). Signed by 32 members.

That this House joins with the celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the election of Will Crooks as honourable Member for Woolwich in the by-election of 11th March 1903 becoming the fourth ever Labour honourable Member; recognises the importance of this event in the early development of the Labour and trades union movement, a victory that was described by the then Speaker as the most spectacular by-election victory of modern times; notes that it led to Woolwich becoming the first constituency to be represented by the Labour party at every level of government including council, London County Council and Board of Guardians and laid the foundations for the election of 30 Labour honourable Members in the general election of 1906; and sends its best wishes to the descendants of Will Crooks who are attending the celebrations to mark the occasion in Eltham, Greenwich, Woolwich, Erith and Thamesmead.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Labour/Co-operative 3, Liberal Democrat 2.