Alfred Dobbs

Alfred James Dobbs (1882, Bozeat; - 27 July 1945, Doncaster) was a British Labour Party politician and trade unionist. He died in a car accident the day after being elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Smethwick; his one day as an MP remains the shortest term served since the Second World War.

Dobbs was born in Bozeat, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. He served as a Rushden Urban District Councillor between 1906 and 1910, although he moved to Leeds in 1909. There, he immediately took an interest in the Leeds branch of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives, becoming president of the branch in 1917. In March, 1919, he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Union.

In local politics, Dobbs acted as a Leeds City Councillor from 1923 to 1929, then as Alderman in Leeds 1929–36 and was chairman the Housing Committee. Dobbs was Leader of Labour Group on Leeds City Council between 1931 and 1936 as well as a magistrate.

After his time at the Leeds City Council, Dobbs worked as National Organiser for the Shoe Union 1936-45. He was well-known at senior levels of the Labour Party, a member of the National Executive Committee 1936–45 and Chair of the Labour Party 1942–43.

Dobbs stood for Parliament on several occasions, in Altrincham at the 1929 general election and in Leeds North East at the 1931 and 1935 general elections.

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