Maurice Foley (politician)

Maurice Anthony Foley (9 October 1925 – 8 February 2002) was a British Labour Party politician.

Foley was born in Durham and educated at a local grammar school. He joined the Transport and General Workers' Union, and stood unsuccessfully for the Labour Party in Bedford at the 1959 United Kingdom general election.[1]

He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich at a by-election in 1963. From 1967 to 1968, he was Under-Secretary of State for the Navy. Before that, whilst serving as a junior government minister with special responsibility for immigrants, he featured in the launch (broadcast on 10 October 1965) of a new BBC TV programme for immigrants, called Apna Hi Ghar Samajhiye (meaning "Make Yourself at Home"). From 1970 to 1973, he was the Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs.[1]

Foley resigned his seat in 1973, having been appointed as Deputy Director General for Development of the European Commission.[1] His successor in the resulting by-election was the future Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd.