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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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John Smith
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(1938–94) Labour politician, MP for Monklands East from 1983 (previously Lanarkshire North 1970–83). Trained as a lawyer and called to the Bar in Scotland, he was briefly in the cabinet at the end of the Callaghan administration as secretary of state for trade (1978–9). He was shadow cabinet spokesman on trade and consumer protection (1979–82), on energy (1982–3) and on trade and industry (1984–7), before becoming shadow chancellor in 1987 for a five-year period (during which he suffered a heart attack, in 1989). In 1992 he succeeded Neil Kinnock as leader of the Labour party and of the Opposition. His attempts to make the Labour party more democratic brought him a narrow victory on the issue of *OMOV (one member one vote). He died suddenly, of a second heart attack, and was succeeded as leader of the party by Tony *Blair.
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