The Annual JH Whitley Memorial Lecture 2026

The Right Hon. J H Whitley was Liberal MP for Halifax from 1900-1928 and Speaker of the House of Commons from 1920-1928. In his memory the University of Huddersfield and Whitley Family have held an annual lecture since 2012 following the Whitley family's generous donation of the J.H. Whitley collection in October 2011 to the University of Huddersfield.

This year’s lecture will be given by Frances O’Grady former TUC general secretary and Labour peer: Labour promises hope again - a new era for workers, trade unions and industrial relations? Frances will explore whether Labour under new leadership will herald a rebalancing of power in the workplace and wider economy.

The Speaker – Frances O'Grady

Frances was the first woman to hold the post of General Secretary for the TUC, taking up the position in 2013. She stood down in 2023 and was appointed as a Labour peer to co-lead opposition in the Lords to the then Conservative government's anti-strikes Minimum Service Levels Bill.

Starting as a T&G union rep and throughout her working life, Frances has long campaigned for workers’ rights. Fair pay, and race and gender equality, remain core ambitions.

She has worked on several successful campaigns for the introduction of a national minimum wage and equal pay for women. In 1997 she was appointed to head up the TUC's New Unionism campaign and launched the Organising Academy. The Academy aimed to challenge the stereotypical image of the trade unionist as 'male, pale and stale', to a profile better suited to the TUC’s membership – which is now 50:50 men and women.

On behalf of the TUC, Frances played a role in the campaign for Britain to remain in the European Union. During Covid, Frances led negotiations for the furlough scheme which protected 11 million jobs. Frances now sits on the board of GB Energy to represent workers' interests and champion a just transition.

The lecture will take place at the University of Huddersfield (Oastler Building). The talk is free to attend however please register your attendance via the 'Reserve a spot' button above.

Please note that Photographic ID (that matches the name booked with) will be required for entry to the event and bag searches will be undertaken

Image of Frances O'Grady - House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris

Image of JH Whitley - Elliott and Fry Portrait of John Henry Whitley; John Henry Whitley Archive, University of Huddersfield Archives at Heritage Quay (JHW-5-1-4)