HC Deb 25 October 1949 vol 468 cc1157-8
The Prime Minister

I am sure that all Members of this House, and particularly older Members, will have heard with regret of the death of Mr. J. R. Clynes, who has passed away at the ripe age of 80 years after a life devoted to the service of his fellow citizens. He started life with few advantages. He went to work at the age of 10, and he was one of those who took part in the organising of the less skilled and underpaid workers towards the end of the 19th century. He did a great work in the trade union movement. He was the youngest of those members of the Labour Party who entered the House in 1906 and formed the first Labour Party here, and he was the last survivor.

He served in this House, with an interval of four years' absence, for nearly 40 years. He was the Leader of the Labour Opposition in 1921; he was Deputy Leader of the House and, in fact, officiated a great deal as Leader of the House during the Parliament of 1924. He was in that difficult office of wartime, the Ministry of Food, in the First World War, first as Parliamentary Secretary and afterwards as Minister. He has been Home Secretary and Lord Privy Seal.

Throughout his career I think it will be said of him that he was a man who never made an enemy. I think his outstanding quality was his complete unselfishness and complete loyalty. He had a very clear mind, good judgment and, without being eloquent, I think he had the gift of simple, lucid speech. But I think most of us will particularly think of him as a very lovable person. One could never meet him without realising how kind, how unassuming and how friendly he was. We have lost one who was a great personality of this House, who did great service in every kind of activity. Many of us mourn the loss of a very dear friend, and I am sure the House will join with me in extending their full sympathy to his widow and children.

Mr. Eden

I am sure that all my right hon. and hon. Friends on this side will join in what the Prime Minister has said, particularly those of us who served in this House with the late Mr. Clynes. I know that his memory, to all of us, is one of great kindliness and friendliness. My own outstanding impression of him, as a young Member, was his modesty and complete sincerity as a Minister. As the Prime Minister has said, we all feel that we have lost a real friend and I would ask to be associated with the message to his family.

Mr. Clement Davies

May I, on behalf of my colleagues in the House, pay a short but very sincere tribute to the memory of Mr. J. R. Clynes who, from his early manhood, devoted himself so loyally and so sincerely to the welfare of the State and its people? Over 44 years have passed since I first knew "Johnny" Clynes, and that was shortly before he became Member for North-East Manchester. He was then, as he always remained, shy and diffident, but that shyness did not, and could not, hide his ability, his steadfastness and his determination. Still less did it cloud or weaken the strength of his convictions. He never for one moment forgot the people among whom he was born and brought up; he devoted himself entirely to them and the amelioration of their conditions. A sincere and courageous trade unionist, a sound Parliamentarian, a trenchant critic, a wise counsellor an effective debater, he has left a fine and enviable record of public service.

Mr. Maclay

May I, on behalf of my National Liberal colleagues, some of whom served for many years in this House with Mr. Clynes, be associated sincerely with the tributes which have been paid to Mr. Clynes' memory today?