Andrew Cunningham

Who was Andrew Cunningham?

Andrew 'Andy' Cunningham was a political figure and union leader in North East England. Born in Durham, he was gaoled for his role in the Poulson scandal of 1974. He lived most of his life in Chester-le-Street.

At the height of his career in 1971 he held the following positions:

Member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party

Chairman of the Chester-le-Street and the Northern Region Executive of the Labour Party

Head of the Northern Region of the General and Municipal Workers Union

Alderman of Durham County Council

Member of the Chester-le-Street town council

Chairman of Durham Police Authority

Chairman of Newcastle Airport Consultative Committee

Member of the Northumbrian River Authority

Member of the Peterlee New Town Development Corporation

Member of the Tyneside Passenger Transport Authority

His role with the GMWU in particular gave him considerable influence, via the Trade Union block vote, in the selection of Labour Party parliamentary candidates. The Poulson scandal also destroyed the careers of T. Dan Smith and the Conservative Home Secretary, Reginald Maudling. Cunningham was sentenced to five years imprisonment, reduced to three on appeal.