Robert Bowen Cant (24 July 1915 – 13 July 1997) was a British Labour politician.

Early life

Cant was educated at Middlesbrough High School for Boys and the

London School of Economics The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. The school specialises in the social sciences. Founded ...

, where he was awarded a BSc in economics. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

he served with the

Royal Corps of Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communications an ...

. He became a lecturer in economics at the newly-established

University of Keele Keele University is a public research university in Keele, approximately from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire, it was granted university status by Royal Charter as ...

in 1962, and wrote ''American Journey'', a study of

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

high schools.

Political career

Cant was elected a councillor on

Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent (often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England. It has an estimated population of 259,965 as of 2022, making it the largest settlement in Staffordshire ...

City Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough counc ...

in 1953, remaining ''in situ'' until standing down in 1976. He also served on

Staffordshire County Council Staffordshire County Council is the upper-tier Local government in England, local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Staffordshire, England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county, which additionally includ ...

from 1973 to 1993, representing Chell ward.Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher
"Staffordshire County Council Election Results 1973-2009"
''Elections Centre''. Retrieved 2 April 2025. He contested

Shrewsbury Shrewsbury ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in Shropshire (district), Shropshire, England. It is sited on the River Severn, northwest of Wolverhampton, west of Telford, southeast of Wrexham and north of Hereford. At the 2021 United ...

in 1950 and 1951. He was Member of Parliament for

Stoke-on-Trent Central Stoke-on-Trent Central is a constituency in Staffordshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Gareth Snell of the Labour Party, who had previously represented the constituency between 2017 and 2019. He succe ...

from 1966 to 1983, preceding

Mark Fisher Mark Fisher (11 July 1968 – 13 January 2017), also known under his blogging alias k-punk, was an English writer, music critic, political and cultural theorist, philosopher, and teacher based in the Department of Visual Cultures at Golds ...

. Even after leaving the Commons, Cant continued to hold onto his seat on Staffordshire County Council, and until 1989 he was chairman of the Council's Education Committee.

References

*''The Times Guide to the House of Commons 1966''

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cant, Robert 1915 births 1997 deaths Alumni of the London School of Economics English academics Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Royal Corps of Signals soldiers UK MPs 1966–1970 UK MPs 1970–1974 UK MPs 1974 UK MPs 1974–1979 UK MPs 1979–1983 Councillors in Staffordshire