Politics is a fundamental part of our society, and it is difficult to imagine a city or country without local councils, MPs, mayors, or ministers. Continuing our series on notable figures from Leeds, today we focus on Gerald Bernard Kaufman, a British politician who served as a minister in the Labour government from 1974 to 1979. Read more about the life and political career of this remarkable Leeds native on leedsyes.com.
Early Life and Education
Gerald Bernard Kaufman was born in Leeds to a family of Polish Jews. He grew up in a large household as the youngest of seven children. He attended Leeds Grammar School and later pursued higher education at Queen’s College, Oxford.
Kaufman began his professional career as a journalist for Daily Mirror and New Statesman. He later worked as a scriptwriter for the BBC.
In 1965, he became the parliamentary press officer for the Labour Party, marking the start of his political journey.
Political Career
Kaufman made his first attempt to enter Parliament in the 1955 general election but was unsuccessful. In 1970, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Manchester Ardwick. From 1974 to 1979, he served as a junior minister in the Labour government. During this time, Kaufman played a significant role in negotiating with the United States to secure landing rights for the Concorde aircraft. He also oversaw legislation concerning the nationalisation of the aviation industry. In 1978, Kaufman was appointed to the Privy Council.
Over the course of his career, Kaufman held several shadow cabinet positions, including Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Shadow Home Secretary, and Shadow Foreign Secretary.
In 1992, Kaufman became the chairman of the National Heritage Select Committee and later chaired the Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee.
In 2015, Kaufman was appointed Father of the House after Peter Tapsell’s retirement.
Kaufman was an early supporter of Israel and a member of Poale Zion. However, he grew disillusioned with the country due to its treatment of Palestinian territories. In 2002, he visited Israel to produce the BBC documentary The End of the Affair, which detailed his disappointment with the nation.
Scandals and Controversies
Kaufman was an outspoken opponent of fox hunting, which led to an attack by pro-hunting activists in 2004. He claimed to have faced antisemitic abuse during the incident.
In 2009, Kaufman was implicated in an expenses scandal. He was accused of excessive claims, including reimbursement requests for items such as a television and an antique rug, amounting to nearly £8,900. He also claimed £28,834 for home repairs.
Death and Legacy
Gerald Bernard Kaufman passed away in February 2017 at the age of 85. His life and career remain an important chapter in the history of British politics and Leeds. We hope this article has shed light on the life of a prominent Leeds-born politician.
Which contemporary politicians do you admire? Share your thoughts on social media—we value your opinion.