Charles Simmons (politician)

Charles James "Jim" Simmons (9 April 1893 – 11 August 1975) was a British lecturer, journalist and politician.

Simmons was born in Moseley, Birmingham. Following elementary education, he became a Primitive Methodist lay preacher at the age of 16. In World War I he served in the Worcestershire Regiment, seeing action in France, Egypt and Gallipoli. He was twice imprisoned whilst in the army, for appearing in uniform at a peace rally and for protesting against field punishments. He lost his leg at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Following the war, he was a leading member of NUX the National Union of Ex-Servicemen, which fought for the rights of those returning from the war. His more militant stance, but reformist not revolutionary, was weakened as many of his comrades left to join the newly formed Communist Party. The NUX was later to effectively disappear as it played an important role in the foundation of the British Legion. Simmons remained active for ex-Servicemen in local organisations. Jim Simmons also played a leading role in the Labour Churches movement.He gained political office as a member of Birmingham City Council from 1921–1931 and 1942–1945.

Simmons was selected as the Labour Party's candidate to contest Birmingham Erdington at the 1924 general election. He failed to unseat the sitting Conservative MP, Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland in a straight fight.

At the next general election in 1929, he was again Labour candidate at Erdington. As well as Steel-Maitland, a Liberal, H J H Dyer, was also nominated to contest the seat. Simmons defeated Steel-Maitland by the narrow margin of 133 votes, benefitting from the fact that Dyer received more than 6,300 votes. The election had been very bitter, with Simmons issuing a leaflet accusing Steel-Maitland of abusing his position as Minister for Labour and using a charitable fund to subsidise colliery owners to employ miners at less than the minimum wage. Following a threat by the defeated MP to begin libel proceedings, Simmons issued a formal apology.

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