Topic: John Freeman

Major John Freeman MBE (born 19 February 1915) is a retired British politician, diplomat and broadcaster. He was the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Watford from 1945 to 1955.

He was educated at Westminster School and Brasenose College, Oxford, (where he was elected an honorary fellow in 1968) and he joined the Labour Party in 1933. During World War II, Freeman saw active service in the Middle East, North Africa, Italy and North West Europe and was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade in 1940. He was appointed MBE in 1943. After his return to the UK, he was selected as Labour candidate for Watford and was elected in the 1945 election victory.

Originally Freeman was on the Bevanite left-wing of the Party although also supported by Hugh Dalton who liked to go 'talent-spotting' among young MPs. He rose quickly through the ministerial ranks, but resigned along with Aneurin Bevan and Harold Wilson in 1951 over National Health Service charges. He stood down as an MP at the 1955 general election.