Robert Barrie Walker

Born in Carstairs, Lanarkshire to a family of farm workers, Walker initially worked on the railways, before moving to England.

[1] Active in the Labour Party, Walker stood unsuccessfully in King's Lynn at the 1918 and 1922 general elections, then at Ormskirk in 1923 and 1924.

[1] He was asked to stand at the 1923 Ludlow by-election, but declined, correctly judging that the party had little support in the area.

[2] Walker was elected as general secretary of the NUAW in 1912[1] and pursued a radical, socialist programme.

[4] He achieved a national profile with the Trades Union Congress, being elected to its Parliamentary Committee in 1917, then serving as president in 1921–22.