Stan Yapp

Who was Stan Yapp?

Sir Stanley Graham Yapp was a Labour politician in Birmingham, England, who became the first leader of the West Midlands County Council.

He worked as a tool maker for GEC at their Witton, Birmingham, factory and entered politics after becoming active in the Amalgamated Engineering Union.

In 1960, Yapp was elected to Birmingham City Council representing Kingstanding ward; he was re-elected there in 1963 and 1966, but lost his seat to the Conservatives in 1969. In 1970 he fought unsuccessfully in Aston ward, and in a July 1970 by-election he failed to retake Newtown ward from the Liberal Party. At the council elections in 1971 he returned, representing Washwood Heath ward and remained a member until the reform of local government took effect.

At the creation of West Midlands County Council in 1973, Yapp won the Erdington division and was also elected for the identical ward on the new Birmingham City Council. Yapp became Leader of the West Midlands County Council when it came into its powers in 1974, serving until Labour lost control and he lost his seat in the 1977 election. He did not stand for re-election to Birmingham City Council in 1978, but was made an Honorary Alderman in 1978. Yapp returned as a councillor in 1980 for Oscott ward, and in 1981 also gained the Oscott division on West Midlands County Council. Boundary changes in 1982 ended the terms of all councillors on Birmingham City Council and Yapp did not seek re-election, but after the abolition of West Midlands County Council in 1986 he was elected once again to Birmingham City Council for Oscott ward.