Joseph Burton Hobman

Joseph Burton Hobman (25 May 1872 – 30 September 1953) was a British Liberal Party politician and journalist.

Background

He was born in Sheffield, the son of Joseph and Mary Hobman.[1] He was educated at Wesley College (Sheffield). He married, first, Margaret H. Linacre, she died in 1924. He then married, Daisy Lucie Adler. They had three children.[2]

Newspaper career

He was Assistant Editor of the Sheffield Independent from 1898–1912, Editor of the Birmingham Gazette from 1912–21. He was Editor of the Westminster Gazette from 1921–28 and on the Editorial Staff, of the Westminster Press (Provincial) from 1928–42.[3] He was a contributor to the mid-European Press on foreign affairs.[4] Perhaps influenced by his Jewish second wife, he was keenly sympathetic to the Zionist and other Jewish causes.[5] He edited David Eder, a Memoir, 1945 and edited Palestine’s Economic Future, 1946.[6]

Political career

He was an advocate of changing the electoral system and sat on the National Executive of the Proportional Representation Society.[7] He was Liberal candidate for the 1928 Sheffield Hallam by-election. It was an unpromising seat for the Liberals who had not stood a candidate since coming third in 1923;

1928 Sheffield Hallam by-election[8] Electorate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Louis Smith 9,417 53.7
Labour Charles Flynn 5,393 30.8
Liberal Joseph Burton Hobman 2,715 15.5
Majority 4,024 22.9
Turnout 54.7
Conservative hold Swing

He was Liberal candidate for the Bradford North for the General Election 1929. This was a more promising seat that the Liberals had won in 1923, even though they had come third in 1924;

General Election 1929[9] Electorate 51,573
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Norman Angell 17,873 41.0
Unionist Eugene Ramsden 15,413 35.4
Liberal Joseph Burton Hobman 10,290 23.6
Majority 2,460 5.5
Turnout 84.5
Labour gain from Unionist Swing

He was Liberal candidate for Bethnal Green North East, for the General Election 1935. This was a promising seat that had been won by the Liberals at the previous General Election. The sitting Liberal MP had joined the Labour party and sought re-election elsewhere. However, he was unable to hold the seat;

Bethnal Green North East in the County of London from 1918 to 1950.
General Election 1935: Bethnal Green North East[10] Electorate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Daniel Chater 11,581 63.5
Liberal Joseph Burton Hobman 6,644 36.5
Majority 4,937 27.0
Turnout 32,809 55.5
Labour Co-op gain from Liberal Swing +19.4

He did not stand for parliament again; however, in 1936, he was elected to serve on the Liberal Party Council.[11]

References
  1. The Liberal Year Book, 1926
  2. http://www.ukWhosWho.com
  3. http://www.ukWhosWho.com
  4. The Times Guide to the House of Commons, 1929
  5. The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History
  6. http://www.ukWhosWho.com
  7. The Times Guide to the House of Commons, 1929
  8. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  9. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  10. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  11. The Liberal Magazine, 1936
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