Ted Leadbitter

Edward Leadbitter MP
Member of Parliament for Hartlepool
In office 28 February 1974 – 16 March 1992
Preceded by	Constituency created
Succeeded by	Peter Mandelson
Member of Parliament for The Hartlepools
In office 15 October 1964 – 8 February 1974
Preceded by	John Kerans
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1919-06-18)18 June 1919 Easington, County Durham
Died	23 December 1996(1996-12-23) (aged 77) Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham
Nationality	British
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Irene Mellin (m. 1940)
Children	2
Residence(s)	Hartlepool, United Kingdom
Occupation	Councillor
Profession	Teacher

Edward Leadbitter (18 June 1919 – 23 December 1996) was a British Labour politician. Leadbitter was a teacher, and served as a councillor on West Hartlepool Borough Council. Leadbitter was Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from February 1964, until he retired in March 1992. His successor was Peter Mandelson. Leadbitter was known for his argument against the 1991 judgment of the Court of Appeal and House of Lords in R v R that criminalised marital rape for the first time. He claimed that married women would now falsely allege rape if a couple had a row.

Shortly before he quit Parliament, he angered Neil Kinnock by buying shares in British Telecom and British Gas.

He died on 23 December 1996, in the intensive care unit at North Tees Hospital, where he was being treated after a road accident.

References

• Times Guide to the House of Commons, 1987
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

Notes

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Ted Leadbitter