Arthur Holt (politician)

Holt joined the Loyal Regiment as a Territorial Army officer in 1938^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] He was Chairman, Holt Hosiery Co. Ltd, Bolton, 1971–73.^[6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8] He was President of the Liberal Party from 1974 to 1975.

• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages ^{[self-published source] [better source needed]}