Willie Hamilton

For other people named William Hamilton, see William Hamilton (disambiguation).

William Winter Hamilton (26 June 1917 – 26 January 2000) was a British politician who served as a Labour Member of Parliament for constituencies in Fife, Scotland between 1950 and 1987. He was known for his strong republican views.

Background

Born in Houghton-le-Spring, the son of a County Durham miner, Hamilton joined the Labour Party as a teenager in 1936. He also became a schoolteacher. After initially being a conscientious objector in World War II, he served as a captain with the Pioneer Corps in the Middle East.

Parliamentary career

Hamilton contested West Fife at the 1945 general election, but lost to Communist Willie Gallacher.

In 1950 he overturned that result, winning by over 13,000 votes. In 1974, after boundary changes, he became MP for Fife Central.

Anti-royal views

He sponsored the equal pay for equal work bill in the 1970s but is best remembered for his stridently anti-royalist views, which he set out in detail in his book My Queen and I. He branded the Queen "a clockwork doll", Princess Margaret "a floozy", and Prince Charles "a twerp". However, he admired the Queen Mother, declaring on her 80th birthday: "I am glad to salute a remarkable old lady. May she live to be the pride of the family."

Later life

In 1987 Hamilton was replaced as Labour candidate in Fife Central by Henry McLeish, and stood in the ultra-safe Conservative seat of South Hams in Devon, South-West England, where he came third, polling just 8% of the vote.

Death

Hamilton retired to Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, and died in Lincoln in 2000, aged 82.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Willie Hamilton
• BBC report of death of Willie Hamilton

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Willie Gallacher	Member of Parliament for West Fife 1950–February 1974	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Central Fife February 1974–1987	Succeeded by Henry McLeish