Luke Bateman (trade unionist)

Luke Henry Bateman (born 1873) was a British trade unionist and politician. He repeatedly narrowly missed out on election to Parliament.

Born in Bristol, Bateman began working for the Great Western Railway, becoming a stationary engineman, and joining the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR). He slowly came to prominence in the union, serving as president of its Bristol Joint Committee, then as president of its Bristol and South West District Council.^[1]

Bateman joined the Independent Labour Party (ILP) and also the Union of Democratic Control.^[1] The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party, for which he stood in Bristol East at the 1918 UK general election, taking second place with 42.8% of the vote. He stood again at the 1922 UK general election, increasing his vote share to 49.7%, and missing out on election by only 151 votes.^[1]^[2] He did not stand in 1923, but at the 1924 and 1929 UK general elections, he stood in Monmouth, taking around a quarter of the vote on each occasion.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c The Labour Who's Who. London: Labour Publishing Company. 1924. p. 13.
^ ^a ^b Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 106, 567. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

[whoswho-1] The Labour Who's Who. London: Labour Publishing Company. 1924. p. 13.

[craig-2] Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 106, 567. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

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