David Candler Papers

Comprises: Speeches, press cuttings regarding Harold Wilson and Labour Government; 'Greater London Enterprise Board' material; 'Local Government Group for Europe' material; 'Labour Movement for Europe group' material;Labour Solidarity and Social Democratic Alliance; Labour Party election and legal material; Personal correspondence and cards.

A lifelong member of the Labour Party, journalist and press officer during Harold Wilson's time at No. 10, David Candler was born in Leeds in 1940. Describing himself as a democratic socialist, his family were involved in clothing and garment trade unions. He joined the Labour Party at the age of 17 and later worked as press officer at Transport House before going to work for Wilson at Downing Street in 1968. His time at Downing Street coincided with a period of tension caused by schisms between the Labour party and government. He joined the press office of the National and Local Government Officers Association, moving on to work for groups like the British Tourist Authority and its newly created London Tourist Board. He was recruited to work for the newly won Labour GLC under Ken Livingstone, joining the Docklands Development Team in 1975, remaining until it was closed down. He returned to work for other GLC departments running press relations and writing speeches, until the GLC was closed down by the Conservative government. He joined Hertsmere Council as head of press until again he was made redundant, and then worked as an adviser to Labour Shadow spokesman Minister Robin Corbett on the Tory Broadcasting Bill. After 1997 he moved to Worcester and became a local Councillor, before retiring from local politics in 2011 and dying later the same year.

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