22 Facts About Freda Corbet

Freda Corbet was a British Labour Party politician.

Freda Corbet was elected Member of Parliament for Camberwell North West in 1945, though she did not attend many debates, focusing more on her municipal work.

Freda Corbet became chief whip of the London County Council in 1947, requiring councillors to check with her before even asking questions at public meetings.

Freda Corbet abstained against a three-line whip in 1972, allowing UK to join the European Common Market, and soon after announced her retirement from politics to spend more time with her unwell second husband, Ian McIvor Campbell.

Freda Corbet was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Southwark in 1974.

Freda Corbet Kunzlen was born on 15 November 1900, in Tooting in London.

Freda Corbet was the eldest child of her father Adolf Kunzlen, a commercial clerk and her mother, Nellie, a political activist.

Freda Corbet joined the Independent Labour Party in 1919, whilst she was studying at University College, London.

Freda Corbet Mansell gained a first-class degree in history from University College, and became a teacher in Wales.

Freda Corbet then moved to Penzance, Cornwall, where she became mistress at Penzance Church High School for Girls.

Freda Corbet married William Corbet, another member of the Independent Labour Party, on 5 August 1925 in Streatham, moving back to London, where her husband ran a sweet shop and newsagent.

Freda Corbet stood three times before being elected to the council for Camberwell North West in 1934, while her husband was elected to Wandsworth council.

Freda Corbet served on the London County Council's education committee for 16 years, helping to introduce comprehensive schools to the city.

Freda Corbet worked to ensure that council tower blocks included lifts.

Freda Corbet stood for Member of Parliament for Lewisham East for Labour at the 1935 general election, but was unsuccessful.

Freda Corbet became a magistrate in 1940, working on the treatment of young offenders.

Freda Corbet became chief whip for the Labour London County Council in 1947 and was very strict in the role.

Freda Corbet represented Britain at the United Nations conference in 1948, helping to produce the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In 1965, when the London County Council was disbanded, replaced with the Greater London Council, Freda Corbet left local government.

Freda Corbet's husband died in 1957, and Freda Corbet married Ian McIvor Campbell on 8 August 1962.

On 15 November 1974, Freda Corbet Campbell was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Southwark.

Ian Campbell died in 1976, and Freda Corbet died of bronchopneumonia and heart failure in Bromley, Kent on 1 November 1993.