James Barr (politician)

Reverend James Barr (26 July 1862 – 1949) was a Scottish minister and a British Liberal then Labour politician and a noted pacifist[1] and socialist.

He was also a strong supporter of home rule for Scotland, a minimum wage and the Temperance movement.

He was born on 26 July 1862 at Beanscroft Farm near Fenwick, East Ayrshire the son of Allan Barr a farmer and his wife Elizabeth Brown.

He served as Chairman of the Select committee on capital punishment, 1929–1930, which reported at the end of the latter year.

[5] His maiden speech as an MP was an attack on the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Act 1925 and lasted just under an hour and a half.