Margaret's career after Parliament

The Labour Party never forgave her for her decision to support McDonalds National Government and in the ensuing election she lost her Wallsend seat and never again sat in Parliament. She returned to her trades union work but finally gave this up in 1938, although she continued to be interested in social issues and causes.

During the Second World War Margaret was involved in leading an investigation by the Hygiene Committee of the Women's Group on Public Welfare as she was their Chairperson. The group looked into the problems that arose from the large-scale evacuation into the countryside of city children and she spent time in the United States and Canada lecturing on behalf of the British Government.

The group's findings were published in 1943, as 'Our Towns: a Close-up'. The report gave many people their first understanding of the extent of inner-city poverty. Suggested solutions included nursery education, a minimum wage, child allowances and a national health service.

Margaret again shows that she was a woman ahead of her time. These are still political hot potatoes today. In 1944 Margaret helped to launch a national drive for the appointment of more women police officers.

After the war she retired to Tunbridge Wells and later lived at Sanderstead in Surrey where she died on June 16th  in 1953.