Joan Maynard

Vera Joan Maynard (5 July 1921 – 27 March 1998) was an English Labour politician and trade unionist.

For the preservationist, see Joan Maynard (preservationist).

Joan Maynard

MP
Member of Parliament
for Sheffield Brightside
In office
10 October 1974 – 11 June 1987
Prime MinisterHarold Wilson
Preceded byEdward Griffiths
Succeeded byDavid Blunkett
Personal details
Born(1921-07-05)5 July 1921
Easingwold, North Yorkshire, England
Died27 March 1998(1998-03-27) (aged 76)
Sowerby, North Yorkshire, England
Political partyLabour
OccupationTrade union official

Biography

Maynard was born in Easingwold, North Yorkshire on 5 July 1921.[1] Dubbed "Stalin's Granny" owing to her left-wing views,[2] Maynard was a leading activist in the National Union of Agricultural Workers becoming vice-president of the union and being narrowly beaten to its presidency. She joined the Labour Party in 1946 and served as a councillor on the North Riding County Council.[1] She was elected to Labour's National Executive Committee 1972–82 and 1983–87, and was Vice-Chair of the Labour Party 1980–81.[3] She was appointed a Justice of the Peace at Thirsk in 1950.[3]

Having acted as Labour agent in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, Maynard was elected in 1974 as MP for Sheffield Brightside and held the seat until she retired in 1987. Throughout her political career Maynard advocated policies on the left of the Labour Party and chaired the left-wing Campaign Group. She served on the Agriculture Select Committee 1975–87.[1] She played a leading role in securing the passage of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 which regulated the tied cottage system that had caused misery to rural workers.[4]

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party from 2015-20, said that Maynard became a 'great friend' to him when he first joined the House of Commons in 1983. He recounted that Maynard had told him that "If both front benches are agreed, it’s probably bad news for the workers. And if a minister ever gets up and says ‘we’re going to have to take some tough choices and some tough decisions,’ it’s a disaster for the working class. Just bear that in mind and you’ll not go far wrong."[5]

Maynard died of cancer in Sowerby, North Yorkshire on 27 March 1998, the same day as fellow former MP, Joan Lestor. Her remains are buried alongside her immediate family at Thornton-le-Street.[6][7]

Bibliography
  • Mason-O'Connor, Kristine (2003). Joan Maynard: A Passionate Socialist. Politico's Publishing. ISBN 1-84275-059-3[2]
  • Routledge, Paul (2003). Bumper Book of British Lefties. Politico's Publishing. ISBN 1-84275-064-X

References
  1. Tam Dalyell (30 March 1998). "Obituary: Joan Maynard". The Independent. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  2. Beckett, Frasncis (23 June 2003). "Stalin's granny". New Statesman.
  3. "MAYNARD, (Vera) Joan". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 6 January 2015. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  4. Chris Mullen. "Joan Maynard's memorial meeting 1998 speech". Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  5. Grace Blakeley. "What I Learned from Jeremy Corbyn". Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  6. "Labour mourns death of another former MP". BBC. 28 March 1998. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  7. Chris Mullin (2011). A Walk-On Part : Diaries 1994-1999. Profile Books. pp. 320, 326, 337, 339. ISBN 9781846685231.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Edward Griffiths		 Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside
October 1974–1987		 Succeeded by
David Blunkett


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