Peter Shore

Peter David Shore, Baron Shore of Stepney PC (May 20, 1924 - September 24, 2001) was a British Labour politician noted for his opposition to the European Communities.

Enters politics

He had specialised in political economy during part of his degree and joined the Labour Party in 1948. He spent the 1950s working for the party and after two unsuccessful Parliamentary contests, he was appointed as Head of the Labour Party's Research Department in 1959 and took charge of the renewal of party policy following its third successive defeat. Shore was not a supporter of Hugh Gaitskell but worked well with Harold Wilson once he had been elected as Leader, and was the main author of the Labour Party manifesto for the 1964 general election. At the last minute he was selected to fight the safe seat of Stepney in the election, and kept it easily.

Related Topics:
Labour Party - 1948 - 1959 - Hugh Gaitskell - Harold Wilson - 1964 - Stepney

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After only a short time on the backbenches, Wilson chose Shore to be his Parliamentary Private Secretary, responsible for liaising between the Prime Minister and Labour MPs. This job kept them in close contact and Wilson was impressed enough to give Shore rapid promotion. In August 1967, aged 43 and after less than three years as an MP, Shore became a member of the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.

Related Topics:
Parliamentary Private Secretary - 1967 - Secretary of State for Economic Affairs

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