Myer Galpern, future MP

Myer Galpern (1/1/03-23/9/93) was a Glasgow Town Councillor (Independent Labour Party, Shettleston & Tollcross ward) in 1942. The son of Anna Talisman and cabinet maker Morris Galpern, both Jewish immigrants from Russia, Galpern was a moral and pacifist conscientious objector, believing if everyone shared his views there would be no war. He would not help prosecute war but would do work under civil control strictly for civil purposes. When he discovered that tea was heavily taxed to pay for munitions he said he would give it up (1). He was assigned alternative service in agriculture, forestry or land reclamation (2). Galpern was described as the manager of own house furnishing business and a Glasgow City Councillor with 20 years in politics and experience of Glasgow Corporation but no experience of agriculture. He did voluntary work in Air Raid Precautions (ARP) (3). His appeal against land or forestry work made at the Glasgow Tribunal and successful and he was given unconditional exemption to war service. In his support, James Maxton MP declared that Galpern was concerned with social service rather than serving himself. He added that the decision to make Galpern do land work was ‘trying to turn a good social worker and expert salesman into a secondary agricultural worker'. (4)

Galpern's later career saw him become the first Jewish man to become a Lord Provost in Scotland (1958-60); a Labour MP (1959-79); and a life peer as Baron Galpern (1979-93).

(1) GLT 14/5/42  (2) DET 14/5/42 p3, DR 15/5/42 p3, SCO 15/5 p3 (3) EAT 30/7/42 (4) EEN 30/7/42 p3, SCO 31/7/42 p3, DR 31/7/42 p3