John Parker (UK politician) - Definition

Herbert John Harvey Parker, normally known as John Parker (1906-1987) was a long-serving British Labour politician.

He was educated at Marlborough College and St John's College, Oxford. In 1931 he contested the seat of Holland with Boston. In 1935 he was elected MP for Romford in Essex, which he represented until 1945; and he subsequently sat for Dagenham (1945-1983).

He was General Secretary of the Fabian Society during World War II, and subsequently its Vice-Chairman and Chairman, and was a junior minister in the Dominions Office 1945-6. In the 48th Parliament of the United Kingdom (1979-1983) he was the Father of the House of Commons.