Thomas Daniel Smith (May 11, 1915 - July 27, 1993) was a British politician who was Leader of Newcastle upon Tyne City Council from 1960 to 1965 and a prominent figure in the Labour Party in the north-east of England, such that he was nicknamed 'Mr. Newcastle'. While leading the redevelopment of his city, Smith formed business links with architect John Poulson which led to his trial for accepting bribes in April 1974, at which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. He starred in a film of his life released in 1987. May 11 is the 131st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (132nd in leap years). ... 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... A politician is an individual involved in politics. ... This article is about a city in the United Kingdom. ... 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... The Labour Party is a a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom (see British politics), and one of the United Kingdoms three main political parties. ... Places on Earth named Newcastle Australia Newcastle, New South Wales Canada Newcastle, New Brunswick Newcastle, Ontario West Indies Newcastle, Nevis, Saint Kitts and Nevis South Africa Newcastle, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa United Kingdom Newcastle, Northern Ireland Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, Wales Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyneside, England Newcastle-under-Lyme... John Garlick Llewellyn Poulson (April 14, 1910 - January 31, 1993) was a British architect who caused a major political scandal when his use of bribery and connections to senior politicians were disclosed in 1972. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

T. Dan Smith in 1963, inspecting progress on slum clearance at Scotswood Road

T. Dan Smith, leader of Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council, in 1963 watching progress on slum clearance at Scotswood Road. ... T. Dan Smith, leader of Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council, in 1963 watching progress on slum clearance at Scotswood Road. ...

Early life

Smith was born in Wallsend, the son of a miner. Both his parents held strong left-wing views and Smith adopted these. He was unemployed during the 1930s but founded his own painting and decorating business in 1937 which was known for being somewhat economical (its local nickname was 'One-Coat Smith'). During World War II, Smith registered as a conscientious objector and was initially active in opposing the war and organising strikes against it; he supported the war after the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Wallsend is literally the end of the Wall, that being Hadrians Wall. ... Events and trends The 1930s were spent struggling for a solution to the global depression. ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (over 11 miles) into the air. ... A conscientious objector is an individual whose personal beliefs are incompatible with military service, perhaps with any role in the armed forces or just with a particular war. ...

During the war Smith joined several left-wing organisations including the Independent Labour Party and the Revolutionary Communist Party, but, by 1945, he was a member of the Labour Party. In 1950 he was elected to Newcastle City Council as a Labour member, and became Chairman of the Labour Group in 1953. It was at this stage that he adopted his unusual formulation of name, after an embarrassing incident at Newcastle Airport when he was confused with another Dan Smith. The Independent Labour Party (ILP) was a former political party in the United Kingdom. ... The Revolutionary Communist Party was a British Trotskyist political party, formed in 1944 and active until 1949, and publishing the Socialist Appeal fortnightly newspaper, a theoretical journal Workers International News and an entrist paper for its Labour Party fraction The Militant. ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Labour Party is a a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom (see British politics), and one of the United Kingdoms three main political parties. ... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Takes charge of Newcastle

When the Labour Party won the 1958 local elections and took control of Newcastle, Smith was appointed Chair of the Housing Committee. His success in launching new housing schemes led to his promotion to be the Leader of the Council in 1960. As Leader he instituted a personality-based leadership, creating an 'inner Cabinet' of his own supporters and excluding all other parties, as well as those Labour members who disagreed with him, from any share of power. Smith had an intimidating physical presence and loud voice which helped him get his way. 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Smith believed strongly in the need to clear Newcastle of slum housing and put a great deal of effort into regeneration plans, such that the city was nicknamed (at his suggestion) "The Brasilia of the North". He also pumped money into local arts institutions. However, Smith's personal desire to make money began to get linked with his political desires. Already it had been spotted that Smith's painting and decorating firm received more than half of the contracts for council housing. In 1962 he established a public relations firm to support redevelopment of other urban centres in the north-east, and later nationwide. This company formed links with John Poulson, an architect keen for the business and known for paying those who could supply it. Bras lia is the capital city of Brazil and is located in the center of the country in a federal district created in the state of Goi s. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Public relations (PR) deals with influencing public opinion, through the presentation of a clients image, message, or product. ... John Garlick Llewellyn Poulson (April 14, 1910 - January 31, 1993) was a British architect who caused a major political scandal when his use of bribery and connections to senior politicians were disclosed in 1972. ...

Political advancement

On the day after the 1964 general election, Smith hired a hotel room in central London to await what he thought a certain phone call to invite him to become a Minister in Harold Wilson's government. However, Wilson had a vague suspicion of Smith, and Smith's alliance with the more moderate side of the Labour Party meant that no such invitation was made. In early 1965, George Brown appointed Smith as Chairman of the Northern Economic Planning Council. Smith was also to serve on the Redcliffe-Maud Commission on local government and the Buchanan Committee on traffic management. The United Kingdom general election of 1964 result was a very slim majority for the Labour Party, of 4, and led to their first government since 1951. ... The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster which contains Big Ben A red double-decker bus crosses Piccadilly Circus. ... The Right Honourable James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, PC (March 11, 1916 – May 24, 1995) was one of the most successful Labour Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and a 1960s icon. ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... George Alfred George-Brown, Baron George-Brown (September 2, 1914 - June 2, 1985) was a British politician who served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1960 to 1970, and was a senior Cabinet minister (including as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) in the Labour government of the... Local government in England as proposed by the report. ...

Legal problems

T. Dan Smith in 1987, defending his reputation

Smith's PR firm was involved with Wandsworth Borough Council in pushing a redevelopment scheme, where its contact was Alderman Sidney Sporle. Sporle fell under police suspicion of corruption in the late 1960s and an inquiry led to Smith being charged with bribery in January 1970. Although acquitted at trial in July 1971, Smith was forced to resign all his political offices. Subsequently, Poulson's 1972 bankruptcy hearings disclosed extensive bribery and in October 1973 Smith was again arrested on corruption charges. He pleaded guilty in 1974 and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. T. Dan Smith, former Leader of Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... The London Borough of Wandsworth is a London borough in southwest London. ... Events and trends The 1960s was a turbulent decade of change around the world. ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ...

On release in 1977 Smith attempted to rebuild a political career, but was refused readmission to the Labour Party. He worked for the Howard League for Penal Reform and campaigned for the rights of released prisoners. In 1987 (the year he was finally readmitted to the Labour Party), Smith starred in a drama-documentary (http://www.amber-online.com/html/t_dan_smith.html) about his story and the regeneration of Newcastle. 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Smith is regarded with mixed emotions by the people of the City he ran. While he was involved in extensive corruption, his desire to improve life for the working-class people was undeniable and he did much to improve housing conditions.