618:, and he instead stood in Avenham ward, which covered the central area of the town. The new boundaries meant that the whole council was up for election, rather than in thirds, as usually happened. In the multi-member ward, Atkins topped the poll, winning more votes than the two Labour candidates elected alongside him. In 1992, full university status was awarded to the Lancashire Polytechnic he had first lobbied for as Preston Polytechnic. That year, it became the University of Central Lancashire, which he had been "a powerful voice for".
739:'s record. Atkins died at his home in Preston on 30 December 2020, at the age of 104. He was survived by Elizabeth, his daughters Charlotte and Liz, and his stepson Donald (from his first marriage). Upon his death, his widow Elizabeth, who was still a councillor, said "He was staunch Labour all his life and highly respected. He was a real guiding force; the Labour group in Preston called him 'the guru'."
519:, which was under threat of closure. During this period, he chaired the all-party retirement group, who fought for early retirement, in 1967 presenting a petition to Parliament for voluntary male retirement at 60, which was signed by more than a million people. He also supported Liberal MP
392:, as well as his condition. He tried to improve his health in order to enter the armed forces by eating a carrot-only diet for more than a month. Eventually, he volunteered for industrial war work as a chief greaser with a chemical company in Barry, where he organised the company's first
582:
in the Labour government, another general election was held. The party lost on a decisive swing to the
Conservatives, who won a comfortable majority. In a tight result which saw two recounts, Atkins was defeated by the (unrelated) Conservative candidate
542:, in the hope of securing a majority. Atkins was re-elected with an increased vote share, and Labour won the election with a small overall majority, on the back of a pledge to hold a referendum on Britain's recent entry to the
672:
In 1950, Atkins married Jesse Scott; the union ended in divorce in 1979. The couple had three sons and two twin daughters, Charlotte and Liz. At the two 1974 general elections, Atkins' stepson, Michael Atkins, contested
692:
from 1997 until 2010. Atkins married his second wife, Elizabeth Alison
Wildgoose in 2012, who was more than forty years his junior, shortly after she was elected to Ashton ward on Preston council. The couple lived in
611:. Following the loss of his parliamentary seat in 1979, Atkins stood for the Park ward in Preston, which he won comfortably. He supported Preston Polytechnic becoming Lancashire Polytechnic, which took place in 1984.
523:'s abortion bill, which did not go down well with Preston's large Catholic population. He thought this may have cost him his seat at the subsequent 1970 general election: Atkins lost to the Conservative candidate
538:, Atkins won back Preston North, defeating Mary Holt by a majority of just 255 votes (0.63%). Labour formed a minority government, and Atkins was back in Parliament. Harold Wilson called another election for
625:, the next set of boundary changes saw Atkins' ward abolished again, with him instead standing in the Town Centre ward, and receiving more votes than the two Labour candidates who were also elected. In
547:
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718:
on 20 December 2014, Atkins became the oldest surviving former MP. He celebrated his 100th birthday in June 2016, attributing his long life to "good genes, an active lifestyle, and wild
661:
748:
732:
349:
310:. His career in British politics spanned nearly sixty years, from 1951 to 2010, including several decades as a councillor in local government, and nine as a Member of Parliament.
689:
579:
641:
644:, Atkins gave a speech introducing Corbyn at an event in Preston. Exclaiming "We love you!", he told the audience of several hundred people: "Jeremy Corbyn is not
587:, who won by just 29 votes (0.1%). Despite his name being mentioned in connection to winnable seats, Ronald Atkins did not stand for election to Parliament again.
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504:, he lobbied Wilson for a new polytechnic institute of education in Preston, which lead to Preston Polytechnic being established in 1973; this, according to the
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branch. The poverty he saw in the port town inspired him to join the Labour Party. He later said "I've been a union man and a socialist all my life."
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In 2016, Atkins recalled "I became an applicant to become an MP, but I thought it was hopeless because I was so left wing." He first contested the
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565:. Benn came fourth on the first ballot with 37 votes, and withdrew from the contest, which was won by the more moderate
458:, but was unsuccessful. The outcome saw his party return to government with a slim majority; however, the presence of a
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629:, a year which saw poor performances by Labour in the local elections, Atkins fended off a strong challenge from the
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584:
562:
377:
75:
575:, "Atkins never sought high political office and it was never offered – he settled for being a constituency MP."
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to lead the Labour Party. In the course of his career, Atkins helped bring a polytechnic educational facility to
513:
428:
365:
142:
653:
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352:. He also became the longest-lived British MP with a registered date of birth, surviving to the age of 104.
546:(EEC). In common with the left of his party at the time, Atkins was opposed to membership of the EEC. The
728:
to mark the occasion, he added there was "some luck too", noting, "I've escaped assassination as an MP."
870:
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as "jazz, dancing, walking, local and national politics, connoisseur of good coffee"; he was an active
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485:, and greatly increased his party's majority. Among the Labour gains was Atkins winning the marginal
436:
404:
267:
255:
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664:, later declaring: "It wasn't because of immigrants. The most important thing is our sovereignty."
534:
College of
Further Education until 1974, a year which saw two general elections take place. At the
338:
318:
167:
372:, the son of Frank Atkins, a master butcher, and his wife Elizabeth (nee Bryant). He grew up on a
459:
466:
constituency (which had previously been a two-way contest) took votes from both Atkins and his
432:
1024:
1017:"Ronald Atkins, energetic Left-winger who became Britain's longest-lived former MP – obituary"
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508:, was "one of his proudest moments". Atkins also successfully campaigned to save the
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448:
334:
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291:
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1134:
Leigh
Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 2)
571:
494:
389:
373:
98:
1087:
902:"Former Preston North MP Ron Atkins claims new parliamentary record at age of 102"
1106:"'A proud champion of Preston' – tributes as former MP Ron Atkins dies aged 104"
520:
322:
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Atkins worked as a teacher from 1949 onwards. Having qualified as a teacher at
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to retain his seat by just seven votes. He remained a Labour councillor until
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384:, which led him to start working rather than going to university. He attended
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381:
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637:, when he stood down; aged 93, he was the oldest member of the council.
550:, however, resulted in a wide margin of victory for the 'Yes' campaign.
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463:
163:
595:
In between his two terms in
Parliament, Atkins stood for election to
561:'s campaign. At the time, the leadership was voted on solely by the
424:
825:"Former Preston MP and city councillor Ron Atkins dies aged 104"
329:
of left-wing Labour MPs. He also supported the campaigns by
923:"Ron Atkins: UK's longest living former MP dies aged 104"
431:
Council, serving from 1952 to 1961. He was also on the
1076:. Plymouth: The Elections Centre, Plymouth University.
749:
Records of members of parliament of the United
Kingdom
553:
In 1976, Wilson stood down as prime minister, and in
701:, with a dog, Rosie. His recreations were listed in
965:"'Powerhouse' Ron Atkins celebrates 100th birthday"
779:"Atkins, Ronald Henry, (13 June 1916–30 Dec. 2020)"
677:, and Michael's wife, Kathleen E. Knight, stood in
614:His ward was abolished in boundary changes for the
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656:for Central Lancashire. Atkins voted to leave the
411:. Atkins also became a tutor and lecturer for the
427:. Whilst in Essex, Atkins became a councillor on
1262:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
282:(13 June 1916 – 30 December 2020) was a British
1070:Preston City Council Election Results 1973-2012
569:, who thus became prime minister. According to
493:, unseating the Conservative former minister
8:
1152:contributions in Parliament by Ronald Atkins
652:Labour." He was made Honorary President of
1156:
681:, both as unsuccessful Labour candidates.
388:, but his studies were interrupted by the
20:
967:. Lancashire Evening Post. Archived from
1129:Times Guide to the House of Commons 1979
1015:Obituaries, Telegraph (1 January 2021).
991:"1975: UK embraces Europe in referendum"
53:28 February 1974 – 7 April 1979
759:
607:, by which time he had returned to the
599:'s Ward No. 5 (Preston: Ribbleton) in
348:From 2018 until his death, he was the
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731:On 30 August 2018, Atkins became the
660:(which had succeeded the EEC) in the
557:, Atkins helped organise left-winger
7:
1287:People from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
1104:Rosindale, Kate (31 December 2020).
1067:Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael.
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88:31 March 1966 – 29 May 1970
642:Jeremy Corbyn's leadership campaign
413:National Council of Labour Colleges
1282:Alumni of the University of London
1050:"1979 Election Results Data Query"
791:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u5935
722:" in his diet. Interviewed by the
14:
555:the resulting leadership election
1161:Parliament of the United Kingdom
640:In August 2015, aged 99, during
527:, and Labour were out of power.
343:University of Central Lancashire
315:Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
209:
603:. He won a seat, serving until
530:Following this, he lectured at
380:. Atkins suffered greatly from
229:
205:
963:Carter, Sarah (10 June 2016).
16:British politician (1916–2020)
1:
360:Atkins was born into a large
286:politician who served as the
1088:"Charlotte Atkins - Hansard"
929:. BBC News. 31 December 2020
415:. He was head of English at
407:, he taught at a college of
783:WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO
544:European Economic Community
1318:
563:Parliamentary Labour Party
364:family on 13 June 1916 in
325:, and was a member of the
317:, Atkins took part in the
1230:
1211:
1203:
1193:
1174:
1166:
1159:
341:, which later became the
273:
116:
81:
46:
30:
1302:British men centenarians
688:, was the Labour MP for
429:Braintree Rural District
714:Following the death of
690:Staffordshire Moorlands
668:Personal life and death
435:education committee of
350:oldest living former MP
323:American war in Vietnam
536:February 1974 election
481:called an election in
386:Southampton University
376:, and was educated at
871:"Ron Atkins obituary"
580:vote of no confidence
578:In 1979, following a
456:1964 general election
356:Early life and career
1214:Member of Parliament
1177:Member of Parliament
597:Preston City Council
502:Member of Parliament
443:Parliamentary career
437:Essex County Council
419:secondary school in
405:University of London
378:Barry Grammar School
294:for two terms: from
288:Member of Parliament
268:University of London
256:Barry Grammar School
208: 1950;
36:Member of Parliament
1292:Politics of Preston
319:Aldermaston marches
280:Ronald Henry Atkins
222:Elizabeth Wildgoose
130:Ronald Henry Atkins
1297:Welsh centenarians
591:Outside Parliament
1240:
1239:
1231:Succeeded by
1194:Succeeded by
1110:blogpreston.co.uk
971:on 27 August 2019
908:. 30 August 2018.
877:. 18 January 2021
800:978-0-19-954088-4
735:ever, surpassing
711:to late in life.
462:candidate in the
409:further education
277:
276:
1309:
1277:UK MPs 1974–1979
1267:UK MPs 1966–1970
1204:Preceded by
1167:Preceded by
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1121:
1119:
1117:
1101:
1092:
1091:
1084:
1078:
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1056:on 2 April 2018.
1052:. Archived from
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733:longest-lived MP
686:Charlotte Atkins
609:House of Commons
401:Birkbeck College
390:Second World War
313:A member of the
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157:30 December 2020
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121:Personal details
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737:Theodore Taylor
725:Lancashire Post
720:Atlantic salmon
709:ballroom dancer
675:Blackpool South
670:
662:2016 referendum
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548:1975 referendum
506:Lancashire Post
445:
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236:
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232: 2012)
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212: 1979)
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175:Political party
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161:(aged 104)
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1140:External links
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1112:. Blog Preston
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616:1990 elections
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476:prime minister
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993:. 6 June 1975
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631:Respect Party
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585:Robert Atkins
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567:Jim Callaghan
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487:Preston North
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479:Harold Wilson
477:
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469:
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460:Liberal Party
457:
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362:Noncomformist
355:
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351:
346:
344:
340:
336:
335:Jeremy Corbyn
332:
328:
327:Tribune group
324:
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304:February 1974
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292:Preston North
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244:5, including
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41:Preston North
37:
33:
29:
25:Ronald Atkins
22:
19:
1212:
1175:
1170:Julian Amery
1145:
1128:
1114:. Retrieved
1109:
1082:
1069:
1062:
1054:the original
1044:
1032:. Retrieved
1020:
995:. Retrieved
985:
973:. Retrieved
969:the original
931:. Retrieved
926:
905:
879:. Retrieved
875:The Guardian
874:
832:. Retrieved
828:
804:. Retrieved
782:
730:
723:
716:John Freeman
713:
703:
683:
671:
649:
639:
620:
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594:
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572:The Guardian
570:
552:
540:October 1974
529:
517:railway line
505:
499:
495:Julian Amery
468:Conservative
454:seat at the
446:
398:
374:smallholding
359:
347:
312:
279:
278:
159:(2020-12-30)
140:13 June 1916
106:Succeeded by
99:Julian Amery
83:
71:Succeeded by
48:
18:
1272:UK MPs 1974
1257:2020 deaths
1252:1916 births
1150:1803–2005:
1116:31 December
933:31 December
679:Fylde South
521:David Steel
394:trade union
302:, and from
195:Jesse Scott
94:Preceded by
59:Preceded by
1246:Categories
755:References
695:Frenchwood
646:New Labour
532:Accrington
491:Lancashire
263:Alma mater
136:1916-06-13
1207:Mary Holt
1197:Mary Holt
1029:0307-1235
927:bbc.co.uk
704:Who's Who
559:Tony Benn
525:Mary Holt
474:. Labour
472:Jim Prior
452:Lowestoft
433:Mid-Essex
421:Braintree
382:psoriasis
370:Glamorgan
345:(UCLan).
331:Tony Benn
252:Education
246:Charlotte
170:, England
147:Glamorgan
111:Mary Holt
84:In office
64:Mary Holt
49:In office
1034:17 April
997:16 April
881:16 April
834:17 April
806:16 April
743:See also
654:Momentum
514:Ormskirk
449:marginal
417:Halstead
241:Children
1147:Hansard
975:13 June
699:Preston
510:Preston
464:Suffolk
339:Preston
234:
226:
214:
202:
198:
185:Spouses
168:Preston
164:Avenham
149:, Wales
1027:
797:
648:he is
470:rival
306:until
298:until
284:Labour
179:Labour
1074:(PDF)
500:As a
425:Essex
366:Barry
228:(
224:
204:(
200:
143:Barry
1227:1979
1216:for
1190:1970
1186:1966
1179:for
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