Last Updated : 10 Mar 2010

Bessie Braddock was born Elizabeth Margaret Bamber in Liverpool in 1889. She met her husband, John Braddock when he was a communist, though they both later became Labour councillors, then aldermen. John went on to become Leader of the City Council while Bessie became a Labour MP for 24 years.

Bessie worked for social legislation, especially in the field of mental health. She was once a fierce left winger but later moderated politically. She was acknowledged to be an expert on hospital care and also worked hard to prevent interracial conflict in Liverpool.

Bessie died in November 1970 at Rathbone Hospital. She was given Freeman of the City.