In March 1892 George Garside, a Slaithwaite born blacksmith and founder of Slaithwaite Social Democratic Club was elected to West Riding County Council for what was essentially the current Colne Valley electoral ward.
Garside was the first socialist (Labour) candidate to gain a seat on a County Council in Britain and won in a straight fight against the Liberal, gaining 55.1% of the vote.
He sat as a ILP Labour County Councillor until his death in 1907 aged 63.
(picture above of Victor Grayson speaking from a famous Clarion Van, Grayson was elected in 1907 as Socialist MP for Colne Valley)
