Donald Thompson

Who was Donald Thompson?

Sir Donald Thompson was a British Conservative Party politician. He was a Member of Parliament from 1979 until 1997.

Thompson attended Holy Trinity School, Halifax, and Hipperholme Grammar School. Following National Service he ran a farm near Halifax then joined the family butcher business of his father, Geoff Thompson, known for its black puddings. His mother, Rachel, had worked as a weaver from the age of 12 until her marriage. Thompson expanded the business considerably and also developed a successful plastics manufacturing business.

Thompson became involved in politics at a young age, setting up Halifax Young Conservatives. He became a county councillor for the West Riding from 1967, joining the new West Yorkshire county council in 1974, then Calderdale district council from 1975 until 1979. He first stood for Parliament at the 1970 general election for the safe Labour seat of Batley and Morley. He stood in the marginal seat of Sowerby in both the February 1974 and October 1974 elections, losing by small margins. In the 1979 election he stood again in Sowerby, beating Max Madden by 1,180. At the 1983 general election, the seat was adjusted and renamed Calder Valley.