Richard Durning Holt
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Durning Holt, 1st Baronet JP
(13 November 1868 – 22 March 1941) was a British
Liberal Party
politician.
, the son of Robert Durning Holt, a cotton broker, by his wife Lawrencina Potter, daughter of Richard Potter. Beatrice Webb
was his maternal aunt and Sir Stafford Cripps
his first cousin. He was educated at Winchester
and New College, Oxford
.
(MP) for Hexham
but his classical liberal ideas were increasingly out of fashion in the Liberal Party; he opposed David Lloyd George
's social welfare legislation as government interference. However he did accept the minimum wage
in 1900 and a public works programme in 1929 after at first opposing it. He became part of the "Holt Cave" of Liberal MPs who opposed Lloyd George's 1914 budget. He was Liberal candidate for Cumberland North in 1929.
In January 1935 he was created a Baronet in recognition of his public services".
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(13 November 1868 – 22 March 1941) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician.
Background and education
Holt was born at Toxteth Park, LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, the son of Robert Durning Holt, a cotton broker, by his wife Lawrencina Potter, daughter of Richard Potter. Beatrice Webb
Beatrice Webb
Martha Beatrice Webb, Lady Passfield was an English sociologist, economist, socialist and social reformer. Although her husband became Baron Passfield in 1929, she refused to be known as Lady Passfield...
was his maternal aunt and Sir Stafford Cripps
Stafford Cripps
Sir Richard Stafford Cripps was a British Labour politician of the first half of the 20th century. During World War II he served in a number of positions in the wartime coalition, including Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Minister of Aircraft Production...
his first cousin. He was educated at Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
.
Political career
He first stood as Liberal candidate at Liverpool West Derby in 1904 and 1906. He was elected at a by-election in 1907 as a Liberal Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Hexham
Hexham (UK Parliament constituency)
- Elections in the 2000s :- Elections in the 1990s :- Elections in the 1980s :- Elections in the 1970s :-Notes and references:...
but his classical liberal ideas were increasingly out of fashion in the Liberal Party; he opposed David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
's social welfare legislation as government interference. However he did accept the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
in 1900 and a public works programme in 1929 after at first opposing it. He became part of the "Holt Cave" of Liberal MPs who opposed Lloyd George's 1914 budget. He was Liberal candidate for Cumberland North in 1929.
In January 1935 he was created a Baronet in recognition of his public services".
Family
Holt married Eliza Lawrence Wells in 1897. They had three daughters, of whom the eldest, Grace, married Anthony Methuen, 5th Baron Methuen. Holt died in March 1941, aged 72. As he had no sons the baronetcy died with him. Lady Holt died in 1951.Further reading
- Odyssey of an Edwardian Liberal: The Political Diary of Richard Durning Holt (Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 1990).
- Ian Packer, 'The Liberal Cave and the 1914 Budget', The English Historical Review, Vol. 111, No. 442 (Jun., 1996), pp. 620-635.