John Wadsworth

Who was John Wadsworth?

John Wadsworth was a British trade unionist and Liberal or Lib-Lab politician.

Born in West Melton in the West Riding of Yorkshire, Wadsworth worked as a coal miner and was elected checkweighman. He joined the Yorkshire Miners Association, a constituent part of the Miners Federation of Great Britain, rising to become the Yorkshire Association's General Secretary, then in 1904 its President.

Wadsworth was elected as the Lib-Lab Member of Parliament for Hallamshire at the 1906 general election.

In 1909, with the other MFGB-sponsored MPs, he joined the Labour Party, retaining his seat in his new colours.

In 1915 he resigned the Labour whip and re-joined the Liberals. He continued as MP until the seat's abolition for the 1918 general election.