James Barr (politician)

For other people named James Barr, see James Barr (disambiguation).

James Barr (1862–1949) was a British Liberal then Labour politician and a noted pacifist and socialist. He was also a strong supporter of home rule for Scotland, a minimum wage and the Temperance movement.

He was originally a Liberal but then joined the Independent Labour Party. Barr was Member of Parliament (MP) for Motherwell, from 1924 to 1931 and then for Coatbridge from 1935 to 1945.

He was Chairman of the Select Committee on Capital Punishment, 1929–1930 which reported at the end of the latter year.

In 1930-1931 he was Chairman of the Liaison Committee, as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party was then known at any time when the party was in government.

A Presbyterian minister, Barr strongly opposed any link between Church and State; in his view, the Church must support and maintain itself on an entirely voluntary basis.

For this reason, he was a prominent member of the United Free Church of Scotland and he led the opposition to that group's reunion with the Church of Scotland in 1929; he and those of like mind did not participate in the re-union and continued as the United Free Church of Scotland, which is still in existence.

His maiden speech as an MP was an attack on the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Act 1925 and lasted just under an hour and a half.

Barr was the grandfather of James Barr (biblical scholar).

References

• Sandra Osborne MP Speech on the Second Reading of the House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Bill, (6 February 2001) Hansard vol 362 cols 837-38

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by James Barr

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Hugh Ferguson	Member of Parliament for Motherwell 1924–1931	Succeeded by Thomas Ormiston
Preceded by William Paterson Templeton	Member of Parliament for Coatbridge 1935–1945	Succeeded by Jean Mann