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{{Short description|Scottish politician (1920–2012)}}
⚫ {{Infobox MP
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
⚫ {{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = | honorific-prefix =
| name = Alexander Mark Hughes Eadie | name = Alexander Eadie
| honorific-suffix = | honorific-suffix =
| image = | image =
| alt = | alt =
| constituency_MP = ] | office = ] <br /> for ]
| parliament = United Kingdom
| majority = | majority =
| predecessor = ] | predecessor = ]
| successor = ] | successor = ]
| term_start = ] | term_start = 31 March 1966
| term_end = ] | term_end = 16 March 1992
| birth_name = Alexander Eadie
| birth_date = {{birth date|1920|6|23|df=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1920|6|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], ], ] | birth_place = ], ], Scotland
| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|1|26|1920|6|23|df=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2012|1|26|1920|6|23|df=y}}
| death_place = ], Fife | death_place = ], Fife, Scotland
⚫ | spouse = {{plainlist|
| nationality = ]
* {{Marriage|Jemima Ritchie|1941|1981|end=died}}
| spouse = Jemima Ritchie <small>(1941–1981) Her death</small><br>Janice Murdoch <small>(1983–2012) His death</small>
* {{Marriage|Janice Murdoch|1983}}
⚫ }}
| party = ] | party = ]
| relations = ] <small>(Daughter in Law)</small> | relations = ] <small>(Daughter in Law)</small>
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| footnotes = | footnotes =
}} }}

'''Alexander Mark Hughes Eadie''' (23 June 1920 &ndash; 26 January 2012),<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> known as '''Alex Eadie''', was a Scottish ] politician.<ref name=BBCObit/> '''Alexander Eadie''' (23 June 1920{{spaced ndash}}26 January 2012),<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> known as '''Alex Eadie''', was a Scottish ] politician.<ref name=BBCObit/>


==Early life== ==Early life==
Born in ], ], he was the son of a ], who was later killed in a pit accident. Educated at ] Senior Secondary School,<ref name=BBCObit/> he left school aged 14 to work part-time at ], while he trained as a mining engineer.<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> Born in ], ], he was the son of a coal miner, who was later killed in a pit accident. Educated at ] Senior Secondary School,<ref name=BBCObit/> he left school aged 14 to work part-time at ], while he trained as a mining engineer.<ref name=ScotsmanObit/>


Eadie stood for the Scottish presidency of the ] in 1961 against Alex Moffat, brother of the outgoing president Abe Moffat. Media commentators gave him little chance as a ] member in a union executive dominated by ], but he came within 3,000 votes of victory.<ref name=TelgObit/> He was subsequently in 1965 elected to the Scottish NUM executive, representative for the county of ].<ref name=GuardObit/> Eadie stood for the Scottish presidency of the ] in 1961 against Alex Moffat, brother of the outgoing president Abe Moffat. Media commentators gave him little chance as a ] member in a union executive dominated by ], but he came within 3,000 votes of victory.<ref name=TelgObit/> He was subsequently in 1965 elected to the Scottish NUM executive, representative for the county of ].<ref name=GuardObit/>
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Eadie contested ] in 1959 and 1964,<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> losing the second time to ].<ref name=GuardObit/> Eadie contested ] in 1959 and 1964,<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> losing the second time to ].<ref name=GuardObit/>


In 1966 a vacancy arose in the mining constituency of ]. Elected ] in the ] with a majority of over 14,416, he warned in his maiden speech at the ] against closing the pits.<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> His seat remained safe until his retirement in 1992,<ref name=BBCObit/> the only scare coming in 1974 when the ] reduced his majority to just over 4,000.<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> In 1966 a vacancy arose in the mining constituency of ]. Elected Member of Parliament in the ] with a majority of over 14,416, he warned in his maiden speech at the ] against closing the pits.<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> His seat remained safe until his retirement in 1992,<ref name=BBCObit/> the only scare coming in 1974 when the ] reduced his majority to just over 4,000.<ref name=ScotsmanObit/>


After co-sponsoring ]'s ] which became the ],<ref name=TelgObit/> in January 1967 he became ] to Minister of Social Security, ]. However, along with seven other PPS's, he was sacked by Prime Minister ] four months later for refusing to back Britain's application for ] membership.<ref name=TelgObit/> After co-sponsoring ]'s ] which became the ],<ref name=TelgObit/> in January 1967 he became ] to Minister of Social Security, ]. However, along with seven other PPS's, he was sacked by Prime Minister ] four months later for refusing to back Britain's application for ] membership.<ref name=TelgObit/>


Wilson appointed Eadie opposition spokesman on energy in 1973, and served as ] for Energy during the ], surving under ministers ] and then ].<ref name=GuardObit/> Eadie promoted research into ], ] and ], and in 1976 secured the ] ] project for ], when the ] recommendation was for ].<ref name=TelgObit/> Wilson appointed Eadie opposition spokesman on energy in 1973, and served as ] for Energy during the ], serving under ministers ] and then ].<ref name=GuardObit/> Eadie promoted research into ], ] and ], and in 1976 secured the ] ] project for ], when the ] recommendation was for ].<ref name=TelgObit/>


Eadie held the energy brief again in opposition under new Labour leader ]. Considered in 1983 as a replacement for ] as chairman of the ], the position was given to ], whom Eadie later blamed for the conflict that led to the ].<ref name=GuardObit/> As Labour's then shadow Energy spokesperson, he backed the strike, but was later critical of ]'s leadership.<ref name=TelgObit/><ref name=GuardObit/> After the strike, Eadie successfully led legal action against the NCB, which under a ruling from the ] ], recovered £120M in miners pension credits, which had been withheld during the strike.<ref name=TelgObit/><ref name=GuardObit/> Eadie held the energy brief again in opposition under new Labour leader ]. Considered in 1983 as a replacement for ] as chairman of the ], the position was given to ], whom Eadie later blamed for the conflict that led to the ].<ref name=GuardObit/> As Labour's then shadow Energy spokesperson, he backed the strike, but was later critical of ]'s leadership.<ref name=TelgObit/><ref name=GuardObit/> After the strike, Eadie successfully led legal action against the NCB, which under a ruling from the ] ], recovered £120M in miners pension credits, which had been withheld during the strike.<ref name=TelgObit/><ref name=GuardObit/>


In the early 1970s, Eadie put forward a Private Members Bill that would have established the principle that no child in Scotland should be treated as incapable of being educated. After he became a junior minister in February 1974, he handed over the brief to ], then Conservative MP for ], with whom he became firm friends. Legislation later passed, steered and supported by Eadie and Gray, which put Scotland at the forefront of ] provision within the UK.<ref name=GuardObit/> In the early 1970s, Eadie put forward a Private Members Bill that would have established the principle that no child in Scotland should be treated as incapable of being educated. After he became a junior minister in February 1974, he handed over the brief to ], then Conservative MP for ], with whom he became firm friends. Legislation later passed, steered and supported by Eadie and Gray, which put Scotland at the forefront of ] provision within the UK.<ref name=GuardObit/>


==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Eadie was married twice, firstly in 1941 to Jemima Ritchie; she died in 1981. In 1983 he married his second wife Janice Murdoch. His son from his first marriage is Bob Eadie, a Labour councillor in Fife.<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> His daughter-in-law ] is Labour ] for ].<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> Eadie was married twice, firstly in 1941 to Jemima Ritchie; she died in 1981. In 1983 he married his second wife Janice Murdoch. His son from his first marriage is Bob Eadie, a Labour councillor in Fife.<ref name=ScotsmanObit/> His daughter-in-law ] was Labour ] for ].<ref name=ScotsmanObit/>


After a period of illness, Eadie died at his home in ], Fife, on 26 January 2012.<ref name=ScotsmanObit>{{cite web|author=IAN SWANSON |url=http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/alex_eadie_served_diligently_says_former_pm_brown_1_2082079 |title=Alex Eadie served ‘diligently’ says former PM Brown - Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Scotsman.com |date=2012-01-27 |accessdate=2012-02-05}}</ref><ref name=BBCObit>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-16749679 |title=BBC News - Former Midlothian MP Alex Eadie dies aged 91 |publisher=] |date=2012-01-26 |accessdate=2012-02-04}}</ref><ref name=TelgObit>{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9042346/Alex-Eadie.html |title=Alex Eadie |publisher=Telegraph |date=2012-01-26 |accessdate=2012-02-04}}</ref><ref name=GuardObit>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/feb/01/alex-eadie|title=Obituary - Alex Eadie|author=Brian Wilson|publisher=]|date=1 February 2012|accessdate=2012-02-04}}</ref> After a period of illness, Eadie died at his home in ], Fife, on 26 January 2012.<ref name=ScotsmanObit>{{cite web|author=IAN SWANSON |url=http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/alex_eadie_served_diligently_says_former_pm_brown_1_2082079 |title=Alex Eadie served 'diligently' says former PM Brown – Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Scotsman.com |date=27 January 2012 |accessdate=2012-02-05}}</ref><ref name=BBCObit>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-16749679 |title=BBC News – Former Midlothian MP Alex Eadie dies aged 91 |publisher=] |date=26 January 2012 |accessdate=2012-02-04}}</ref><ref name=TelgObit>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9042346/Alex-Eadie.html |title=Alex Eadie |work=The Telegraph|date=26 January 2012 |accessdate=2012-02-04}}</ref><ref name=GuardObit>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/feb/01/alex-eadie|title=Obituary – Alex Eadie|author=Brian Wilson|work=]|date=1 February 2012|accessdate=2012-02-04}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
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===Notes=== ===Notes===
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-alexander-eadie | Alex Eadie }}

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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ] -->
{{Abortion in the United Kingdom}}
⚫ | NAME = Eadie, Alex
{{Authority control}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =

| SHORT DESCRIPTION = British politician
| DATE OF BIRTH = 23 June 1920
| PLACE OF BIRTH = ], ], ]
| DATE OF DEATH = 26 January 2012
| PLACE OF DEATH = ], Fife
⚫ }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eadie, Alexander}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Eadie, Alexander}}
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Latest revision as of 20:07, 25 January 2024

Scottish politician (1920–2012)

Alexander Eadie
Member of Parliament
for Midlothian
In office
31 March 1966 – 16 March 1992
Preceded byJames Hill
Succeeded byEric Clarke
Personal details
BornAlexander Eadie
(1920-06-23)23 June 1920
Buckhaven, Fife, Scotland
Died26 January 2012(2012-01-26) (aged 91)
East Wemyss, Fife, Scotland
Political partyScottish Labour Party
Spouses
Jemima Ritchie ​ ​(m. 1941; died 1981)​
Janice Murdoch ​(m. 1983)​
RelationsHelen Eadie (Daughter in Law)
ChildrenBob Eadie
OccupationCoal Miner, Union Executive

Alexander Eadie (23 June 1920 – 26 January 2012), known as Alex Eadie, was a Scottish Labour politician.

Early life

Born in Buckhaven, Fife, he was the son of a coal miner, who was later killed in a pit accident. Educated at Buckhaven Senior Secondary School, he left school aged 14 to work part-time at Lochhead Colliery, while he trained as a mining engineer.

Eadie stood for the Scottish presidency of the National Union of Mineworkers in 1961 against Alex Moffat, brother of the outgoing president Abe Moffat. Media commentators gave him little chance as a Fabian Society member in a union executive dominated by communists, but he came within 3,000 votes of victory. He was subsequently in 1965 elected to the Scottish NUM executive, representative for the county of Clackmannanshire.

Political career

Eadie joined the Scottish Labour Party in 1943, and was elected Scottish president of the Young Co-Operators in 1945. He later served as a member of the SLP Executive.

He was a councillor on Fife County Council for 20 years, chairing the housing and education committees.

Parliamentary career

Eadie contested Ayr in 1959 and 1964, losing the second time to George Younger.

In 1966 a vacancy arose in the mining constituency of Midlothian. Elected Member of Parliament in the 1966 general election with a majority of over 14,416, he warned in his maiden speech at the Palace of Westminster against closing the pits. His seat remained safe until his retirement in 1992, the only scare coming in 1974 when the Scottish National Party reduced his majority to just over 4,000.

After co-sponsoring David Steel's Private Member's Bill which became the Abortion Act 1967, in January 1967 he became Parliamentary Private Secretary to Minister of Social Security, Margaret Herbison. However, along with seven other PPS's, he was sacked by Prime Minister Harold Wilson four months later for refusing to back Britain's application for Common Market membership.

Wilson appointed Eadie opposition spokesman on energy in 1973, and served as junior minister for Energy during the Labour government of 1974 to 1979, serving under ministers Eric Varley and then Tony Benn. Eadie promoted research into wave, tidal and geothermal energy, and in 1976 secured the Joint European Torus (JET) nuclear fusion project for Oxfordshire, when the European Commission recommendation was for Italy.

Eadie held the energy brief again in opposition under new Labour leader Neil Kinnock. Considered in 1983 as a replacement for Derek Ezra as chairman of the National Coal Board, the position was given to Sir Ian MacGregor, whom Eadie later blamed for the conflict that led to the miners' strike of 1984–85. As Labour's then shadow Energy spokesperson, he backed the strike, but was later critical of Arthur Scargill's leadership. After the strike, Eadie successfully led legal action against the NCB, which under a ruling from the Attorney General for England and Wales Sir Patrick Mayhew, recovered £120M in miners pension credits, which had been withheld during the strike.

In the early 1970s, Eadie put forward a Private Members Bill that would have established the principle that no child in Scotland should be treated as incapable of being educated. After he became a junior minister in February 1974, he handed over the brief to Hamish Gray, then Conservative MP for Ross and Cromarty, with whom he became firm friends. Legislation later passed, steered and supported by Eadie and Gray, which put Scotland at the forefront of special needs education provision within the UK.

Personal life

Eadie was married twice, firstly in 1941 to Jemima Ritchie; she died in 1981. In 1983 he married his second wife Janice Murdoch. His son from his first marriage is Bob Eadie, a Labour councillor in Fife. His daughter-in-law Helen Eadie was Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament for Cowdenbeath.

After a period of illness, Eadie died at his home in East Wemyss, Fife, on 26 January 2012.

References

Notes

  1. ^ IAN SWANSON (27 January 2012). "Alex Eadie served 'diligently' says former PM Brown – Edinburgh Evening News". Scotsman.com. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  2. ^ "BBC News – Former Midlothian MP Alex Eadie dies aged 91". BBC News. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  3. ^ "Alex Eadie". The Telegraph. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  4. ^ Brian Wilson (1 February 2012). "Obituary – Alex Eadie". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 February 2012.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded byJames Hill Member of Parliament for Midlothian
1966–1992 		Succeeded byEric Clarke
Abortion in the United Kingdom
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