Thomas Hubbard

Thomas Frederick Hubbard (October 1898 – 7 January 1961) was a British coal miner and politician. He represented Kirkcaldy Burghs in Parliament for fifteen years, being a somewhat low-profile Member but often speaking in support of better conditions for pensioners. Origins A native of Kirkcaldy, Hubbard attended only the local elementary school before going to work as a grocer's assistant. During the First World War he enlisted in the Royal Navy, serving throughout the conflict. After the end of the war, he became a miner. He joined the Labour Party shortly after, and in 1922 married Jessie Cooper of Dysart; they had two sons. Politics Hubbard was elected to Kirkcaldy Town Council in 1936, and also served on the executive of the Fifeshire Miners' Association. In 1941 he suffered a severe leg injury at work, and retired from mining to become instead an Air-raid shelter superintendent. By-election candidate The sitting Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Kirkcaldy, Tom Kennedy, announced his resignation in January 1944. Hubbard was selected on 22 January to fight the seat at the resulting by-election; he faced opposition from Douglas Young, leader of the Scottish National Party, and a candidate standing as a 'Christian Socialist'. Hubbard won by 1,647 votes.