Jo Richardson
| Jo Richardson | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the Labour Party | |
|
In office 27 October 1989 – 1990 |
|
| Leader | Neil Kinnock |
| Preceded by | Dennis Skinner |
| Succeeded by | Tom Sawyer |
| Member of Parliament for Barking |
|
|
In office 28 February 1974 – 1 February 1994 |
|
| Preceded by | Tom Driberg |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Hodge |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
28 August 1923 Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom |
| Died | 1 February 1994 (aged 70) Barking, London, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | English |
| Political party | Labour |
Josephine Richardson (28 August 1923 – 1 February 1994) was a British Labour Party politician. At the time of her death she was Member of Parliament for Barking, a post she had held since 1974.
She was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. She attended Southend High School for Girls.
Richardson began her political career as Ian Mikardo's secretary. She co-ordinated the 'Keep Left Group' and went on to become the secretary of the Tribune Group before co-ordinating the Victory for Socialism Campaign. In 1951 Richardson was elected to Hornsey Borough Council and became Mikardo's full-time secretary and working partner in his business which involved trade with eastern Europe. She contested the parliamentary seats of Monmouth in 1951 and 1955, Hornchurch in 1959, and Harrow East in 1964.
She was seen as a peace campaigner on the hard left of the Labour Party. She was a member of the Socialist Campaign Group but resigned in 1988 in protest at Tony Benn's decision to challenge Neil Kinnock for the leadership. She also served as a member of the Shadow Cabinet. She was a central figure of the feminist left and helped to expand women's rights in Britain and was the head of a group of women MPs that supported the anti-pornography position. She was also a pro-choice campaigner.
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