# Arthur Holt (politician)

Arthur Frederick Holt (8 August 1914 – 23 August 1995) was a hosiery manufacturer and Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom, and Member of Parliament for thirteen years.

## Background

Holt was born in Bolton. He was educated at Mill Hill School and Victoria University of Manchester. In 1939 he married Kathleen Mary Openshaw, MBE. They had one son and one daughter. He played Rugby for Bolton RUFC.

## Professional career

Holt joined the Loyal Regiment as a Territorial Army officer in 1938 and left the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers in 1964. He was company commander in the Reconnaissance Corps and was taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore in 1942. He was twice mentioned in dispatches.
Holt was a hosiery manufacturer. With his two brothers he built up in Bolton an industry new to the town. He was Chairman, Holt Hosiery Co. Ltd, Bolton, 1971–73.

## Political career

Holt was first elected at the 1951 general election, when he defeated the only other candidate in the Bolton West constituency, sitting Labour MP John Lewis. Holt was re-elected in straight contests with Labour at two further general elections. He was Parliamentary Chairman of the Liberal Party from 1952 to 1955. He was a Member of the Parliamentary delegation to Russia in 1954. He was Liberal Chief Whip from 1962 to 1963. His share of the vote was halved when the Conservative Party fielded a candidate at the 1964 general elections, and the seat was won by Labour's Gordon Oakes. He was President of the Liberal Party from 1974 to 1975.

### Electoral record

General election 1950: Bolton East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alfred Booth | 24,826 | 45.48 | n/a |
| | Conservative | Philip Bell | 21,117 | 38.68 | n/a |
| | Liberal | Arthur Holt | 8,647 | 15.84 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,709 | 6.79 | n/a |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,590 | 87.46 | n/a |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
General election 1951: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Holt | 26,271 | 52.76 | +32.30 |
| | Labour | John Lewis | 23,523 | 47.24 | +2.62 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,748 | 5.52 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,794 | 84.79 | −2.76 |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Swing | +17.46 | |
General election 1955: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Holt | 24,827 | 55.37 | +2.61 |
| | Labour | James Haworth | 20,014 | 44.63 | −2.61 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,813 | 10.73 | +5.22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,841 | 79.05 | − 5.74 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.61 | |
General election 1959: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Holt | 23,533 | 54.63 | −0.74 |
| | Labour | Peter Cameron | 19,545 | 45.37 | +0.74 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,988 | 9.26 | −1.48 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,078 | 79.72 | +0.65 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -0.74 | |
General election 1964: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Oakes | 16,519 | 41.17 | −4.20 |
| | Conservative | Douglas Sisson | 13,522 | 33.70 | + 33.70 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Holt | 10,086 | 25.14 | − 29.49 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,997 | 7.47 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,346 | 78.15 | −1.67 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | -18.95 | |