| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
John Smith ( September 13, 1938 - May 12, 1994) was a British politician who served as leader of the Labour Party from July 1992 until his unexpected death from a heart attack in May 1994.
Born in Scotland, he went to school in Dunoon before attending the University of Glasgow where he studied law. While at University he won the Observer Mace debating championship. He worked as a barrister before entering parliament for North Lanarkshire in 1970.
In the Labour government of the 1970s, Smith piloted the highly controversial devolutionDevolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. It differs from federalism in that the powers devolved are temporary and ultimately reside in central government. Any devolved assemblies ca proposals for Scotland and WalesFor alternate meanings, see Wales (disambiguation Wales ( Welsh: Cymru pronounced /"k@mrI/ SAMPA, km IPA, 'Kumree' approximate pronunciation) is one of the four nations comprising the United Kingdom (the other three being England, Scotland and Northern Ir through the House of CommonsIn a bicameral parliament of a Westminster System, the House of Commons has historically been the name of the elected lower house. The Commons generally holds much more power than the upper house (the senate or House of Lords). The leader of the majority. From 1978Events January January 1 The Copyright Act of 1976 takes effect, making sweeping changes to United States copyright law. January 1 Air India's Boeing 747 explodes near Bombay 213 dead. January 4 Referendum in Chile supports policies of Augusto Pinochet. until the government fell in 1979Events January-February January 1 Sino-American relations: United States and the People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations January 4 State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of dead and injured in Kent State University shootings. he served as Secretary of State for Trade.
Despite his quiet, modest manner, and his politically moderate stance, he was a witty, often scathing speaker. He suffered a heart attack in 19881988 is a leap year starting on Friday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 2 Georgia celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 9 Connecticut celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 26 Australia celebrates its bicentennial day., while Shadow Chancellor, and lost a lot of weight in order not to risk further problems. His 'Shadow Budget' at the start of the 1992 general election was subsequently criticised as having contributed to Labour's surprise defeat, although it did not prevent him being elected to succeed Neil KinnockThe Right Honourable Neil Kinnock (born March 28, 1942) is a British politician. He was the leader of the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992, when he resigned after the general election defeat. He was succeeded by John Smith. Career Overview First elected in as leader.
During his brief time as leader of the Labour Party he abolished the trade union block vote at Labour party conferences, and replaced it with "one member one vote". It was also during his time as leader, that the Labour party gained a significant lead in the polls over the Conservatives. He also committed a future Labour government to establishing a Scottish Parliament, a policy which was carried out by his successors after his death.
His sudden and untimely death, made way for young hopeful Shadow Home Secretary Tony Blair. John Smith was buried on the holy island of Iona, special permission having already been obtained. Following Smith's death, the Labour Party renamed its then party headquarters in Walworth Road to John Smith House in his memory.
Smith's death - although he had suffered a serious heart attack in 1988 he was widely seen as fully recovered - caused an emotional convulsion that, in a small way, prefigured the outpouring of grief that followed the equally unexpected death of Diana, Princess of Wales three years later. Partly as a result a truthful discussion of Smith's policy and legacy has been difficult to hear in the following years.
Smith was a traditional figure of the Labour right and, as such, was seen by many as a conservative leader. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were, under Smith's leadership, restless and anxious in private that the party had adopted a "one more heave" approach and was overly cautious in tackling the legacy of "tax and spend".
Since Blair became leader Smith has become an icon of Labour hard left because of his traditionalist approach and the contrast between his leadership and that of Blair. The question of whether Smith could have led the Labour Party to electoral victory remains, of course, moot.