James Barr (politician)

For other people named James Barr, see James Barr (disambiguation).

James Barr (1862–1949) was a British Liberal then Labour politician and a noted pacifist and socialist. He was also a strong supporter of home rule for Scotland, a minimum wage and the Temperance movement.

Barr was originally a Liberal but then joined the Independent Labour Party. He served as the Member of Parliament for Motherwell, from 1924-31 and then for Coatbridge from 1935-45.

He served as Chairman of the Select Committee on Capital Punishment, 1929–1930 which reported at the end of the latter year.

In 1930-1931, Barr was Chairman of the Liaison Committee, as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party was then known at any time when the party was in government.

A Presbyterian minister, Barr strongly opposed any link between church and state; in his view, the Church must support and maintain itself on an entirely voluntary basis.

For this reason, he was a prominent member of the United Free Church of Scotland and he led the opposition to that group's reunion with the Church of Scotland in 1929; he and those of like mind did not participate in the reunion and continued as the United Free Church of Scotland, which is still in existence.

His maiden speech as an MP was an attack on the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Act 1925 and lasted just under an hour and a half.

Barr was the grandfather of James Barr (biblical scholar).

Published works

• Barr, James (1903). Christianity and war, lectures. London. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |chapterurl= (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Barr, James (1916). The conscientious objector, a lecture. London. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |chapterurl= (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Capital Punishment.; Rev. James Barr (Chairman) (1931). Report from the Select Committee on Capital Punishment : together with the proceedings of the Committee, and the minutes of evidence, taken before the Select Committee on Capital Punishment in 1929-1930, together with appendices and index. London: HMSO. cxiv, 681 pp. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |nopp= ignored (|no-pp= suggested) (help)
• Barr, James (1941). Ignored speeches. London: Parliamentary Peace Aims Group. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |chapterurl= (help)

References

• Sandra Osborne MP Speech on the Second Reading of the House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Bill, (6 February 2001) Hansard vol 362 cols 837-38

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by James Barr