Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee's granddaughter Jo Roundell Greene to run for Liberal Democrats

Jo Roundell Greene will stand for the seat in Yeovil 

Ashley Cowburn
Friday 05 May 2017 01:36 BST
Comments
Labour's post war Prime Minister Clement Attlee
Labour's post war Prime Minister Clement Attlee (PA Archive/PA Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Presiding over the post-war Labour government, Clement Attlee oversaw some of the most significant reforms of the 20th century, introducing the National Health Service, nationalising one fifth of the British economy, and granting independence to India.

Now his granddaughter Jo Roundell Greene is hoping to follow in his footsteps and enter parliament - except she is running for the Liberal Democrats in Yeovil.

Currently the deputy leader of South Somerset District Council, she wil stand for the seat after their previous parliamentary spokeswoman, Daisy Benson, withdrew citing personal reasons.

"Knocking on doors I am struck by the number of people who have told me how badly they believe our area has been served in parliament since the last election," she told the Somerset Live wesbsite.

She added: “Our NHS is in a dire state despite the excellent work of its dedicated staff, while schools in our area face £3m cuts by 2019 because of the Conservatives. If elected I will fight to make sure we export helicopters from Yeovil, not jobs."

Named amongst the best councillors in the country at the Local Government Awards in 2016, Ms Roundell Greene is a wife, mother and grandmother and has worked in a chicken factory, as a bricklayer, and as a cleaner.

As the granddaughter of Clement Attlee however, she is following in the footsteps of one of the 20th Century's most important politicians.

After working as a social worker in London's East End, he joined the Labour Party before going to serve in the army in the First World War.

On his return he became the MP for Stepney in 1922, serving as a junior minister before going on to lead the party in 1935.

During World War Two, Attlee was a highly successful deputy prime minister in Churchill's coalition government.

Then in 1945, when Labour swept to power in a landslide election victory, he became prime minister, overseeing the creation of the National Health Service and the nationalisation of coal mining and the steel industry.

He played a crucial role in supporting Aneurin Bevin's Cold War diplomacy, and in accelerating independence for India, a cause which he had supported for many years.

​After Labour's defeat in the general election of 1951, he struggled to control infighting within the party and he resigned four years later, accepting a peerage at the same time.

He died on 8 October 1967.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in