11 Facts About Gordon Lang

Gordon Lang was a Welsh Congregationalist minister and Labour Party politician.

Gordon Lang was Member of Parliament for Oldham from 1929 until 1931, and for Stalybridge and Hyde from 1945 until 1951.

Gordon Lang combined his pastoral work with political activity including being the honorary secretary of the United Europe Movement and a leading member of the Proportional Representation Society.

Gordon Lang stood at Oldham again at the next general election in 1935, but failed to regain the seat for Labour.

Gordon Lang was chosen to contest the ensuing byelection, which was a straight fight with Horace Trevor-Cox, Conservative and National Government candidate.

Gordon Lang came close to winning the seat, reducing the Conservatives' majority from the 1935 general election of 5,081 votes to just 334.

The 1945 general election resulted in a Labour landslide victory, where the first majority Labour government was formed, and Gordon Lang was comfortably elected with a majority of 4,370 votes.

Gordon Lang retained the seat at the next general election in 1950.

Gordon Lang announced that he would not contest the election due to ill health, and retired from the House of Commons.

Gordon Lang continued in his ministry, and was appointed chaplain to the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain.

Gordon Lang died at his home in Chepstow in June 1981, aged 88.