John Fraser (British politician)

Contents

John Denis Fraser (30 June 1934 – 6 April 2017) was a Labour Member of Parliament for Norwood in London from 1966 to 1997 and a solicitor.[1][2]

Early life and education

Fraser was born on 30 June 1934 in Wandsworth, London, to Frances Benedict and Archibald Fraser.[1] He was of Scottish and Irish descent.

He was educated at Sloane Grammar School, Chelsea and the Law Society College of Law, becoming a solicitor. He was a senior partner at the law firm Lewis Silkin LLP.[1]

Political career

Fraser was a councillor on Lambeth Borough Council from 1962 to 1965 and the London Borough of Lambeth from 1964. He was a founding member of the Co-operative (Housing) Development Society.[1][3]

He served as Under Secretary at the Department of Trade and Industry in 1966, Under Secretary of State for Employment from 1974 to 1976, and Minister of State at the Department of Prices & Consumer Protection from 1976 to 1979. He also has been described by his former law firm as largely contributing to the Unfair Contract Terms Act of 1977 through Parliament.[4][5]

After leaving government in 1979, Fraser served as an opposition spokesman on trade, housing, construction and legal affairs during the following years.[1]

Norwood was abolished as a constituency in 1997. Fraser lost the selection contest for Dulwich and West Norwood to Tessa Jowell, then MP for Dulwich.[1][6]

Personal life

Fraser was a devout Catholic, and he often gave readings at church. He married Ann Hathaway in 1960. Together they had three children: two sons and a daughter.

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4][1.5][1.6]Langdon, Julia (24 April 2017). "John Fraser obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  2. 2.Members 1979–2010 (PDF) (Report). House of Commons Library. 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  3. 3."Newsletter 100". West Norwood Cemetery Newsletter. January 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  4. 4."Commons Chamber, 2 April 1982". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 2 April 1982. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  5. 5."Lewis Silkin LLP". BCGSearch. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  6. 6."Tories to gain just three seats from boundary changes". The Independent. 1995. Retrieved 13 August 2026.