Norman West Explained

Norman West
Office:Member of the European Parliament
for Yorkshire South
Term Start:14 June 1984
Term End:1 March 1998
Parliament:European
Predecessor:Brian Key
Successor:Linda McAvan
Birth Date:26 November 1935
Birth Place:Worsborough, South Yorkshire, England
Death Place:Worsborough, South Yorkshire, England
Nationality:British
Party:Labour

Norman West (26 November 1935 – 7 September 2009[1]) was a British politician, coal miner, and trade unionist. A member of the Labour Party, he served as the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Yorkshire South from 1984 to 1998.

Prior to this, West was a career coal miner and trade union activist who was elected to the South Yorkshire County Council. He was a member of the Socialist Campaign Group (SCG), a left-wing group within the party.

Early life and coal mining career

West was born in Worsborough near Barnsley, South Yorkshire on 26 November 1935. He studied at Barnsley Grammar School before becoming a coal miner at Barrow Colliery, the local mine in Worsborough.[2] He went on to join the National Union of Mineworkers, and supported Arthur Scargill in his early years.

Political and trade union career

West also became active in the Labour Party, and was elected to South Yorkshire County Council. In the 1984 European Parliament election, he was elected as the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Yorkshire South.

During his tenure as an MEP, he supported the UK miners' strike. He was a member of the Socialist Campaign Group. According to The Guardian, West was a "committed internationalist" despite personal "reservations about the case for British membership" in the EU.[3] West stood down as an MEP in 1998, and was succeeded by Linda McAvan in the subsequent by-election.

Later life and death

Following his tenure in the European Parliament, West remained a resident of Worsborough until his death on 7 September 2009. He was survived by his wife Shirley, their two sons, and their four grandchildren.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Norman WEST - History of parliamentary service - MEPs - European Parliament. www.europarl.europa.eu.
  2. News: Newens . Stan . Obituary: Other lives: Norman West . 12 June 2018 . The Guardian . 29 October 2009.
  3. News: Newens . Stan . 2009-10-28 . Norman West obituary . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-11-06 . 0261-3077.