Frank Markham

Sir Sydney Frank Markham (19 October 1897 – 13 October 1975) was a British politician, who represented three parties in Parliament.

He was elected as a Labour MP at the 1929 general election as MP for Chatham, and defected with Ramsay MacDonald to become a National Labour MP just before standing down at the 1931 general election. It was under these colours that he was elected for Nottingham South in 1935. He lost this seat standing as a 'National Independent' following the official dissolution of National Labour.

At the 1950 general election, he stood as the Conservative candidate in the Buckingham constituency, but failed to unseat the sitting Labour Member of Parliament, Aidan Crawley. However, at the 1951 general election, he beat Crawley by a majority of only 54 votes. He held the seat with narrow majorities at the 1955 election and at the 1959 election and stood down before the 1964 general election.

He was conferred the honour of Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 June 1953.

In retirement, he is best noted for his A History of Milton Keynes and District (two volumes) ISBN 0-900804-29-7 (see History of Milton Keynes). A secondary school in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire - now replaced - was named after him.

References

• UK General Elections since 1832 at Keele University
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Frank Markham