Blackburn Labour Party

Sixty years ago on July 5th 1945 the voters of Blackburn elected Barbara Castle to represent them in parliament. Barbara built a reputation for herself as a conscientious, hard-working, tenacious back-bencher. It wasn't until Harold Wilson was elected in 1964 that she gained ministerial responsibility, first at Overseas Development, then Transport, and later Employment and Productivity. Jack worked as a special advisor for Barbara Castle and was viewed by Barbara as the ideal candidate to act as her successor. Jack was endorsed as Blackburn's candidate in July 1977

Barbara is pictured in the photograph of Jack's victory in 1979 (second from the right) with her husband Ted, standing just behind her. (See more about Barbara)

	`Blackburn Labour Party` Click on any image for an enlarged view
A new man in Westminster 1979	Rt Hon Jack Straw MP Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice	A Statesman 2005
Jack with wife Alice, victorious in 1979	Sixty years ago on July 5th 1945 the voters of Blackburn elected Barbara Castle to represent them in parliament. Barbara built a reputation for herself as a conscientious, hard-working, tenacious back-bencher. It wasn't until Harold Wilson was elected in 1964 that she gained ministerial responsibility, first at Overseas Development, then Transport, and later Employment and Productivity. Jack worked as a special advisor for Barbara Castle and was viewed by Barbara as the ideal candidate to act as her successor. Jack was endorsed as Blackburn's candidate in July 1977 Barbara is pictured in the photograph of Jack's victory in 1979 (second from the right) with her husband Ted, standing just behind her. (See more about Barbara)	Barbara in defiant mood