Hugh Hartley Lawrie

Hugh Hartley Lawrie (1879–1945) was a British trade unionist and politician, elected as Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde from 1929 to 1931.

He was educated at a Board School before working at a local cotton mill from age 11.

[1] He is regarded as a protégé of John Beard, and was involved in trying to organise farmworkers, around the time of World War I.

An effort in Shropshire in 1914 involved peat-cutters at Whixall, and with another organiser Arthur Flavell at Oakengates, mostly workers in the coalfield there, without attracting agricultural workers in general.

[2] He was vice-president of the TGWU Woolwich branch, sitting on the committee from 1941 until his death.