John Broadbent: podcast appearances and interviews

John Broadbent was the founder of Realise Potential. He was a British army officer and Conservative politician with a background in military service and politics. Broadbent was educated at Stamford Academy in Ashton-under-Lyne and began his military career in 1895 with a commission in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. During the Second Boer War, he served with a detachment of his battalion that was sent to serve with the regular army. When the Territorial Force was established in 1908, Broadbent transferred to the 9th Battalion (Territorial Force) of the Manchester Regiment, where he held the rank of major. He resigned his commission in 1912 but rejoined in 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and commanding the battalion. After the war, Broadbent became active in politics as president of the Ashton Conservative Association. He stood as a Conservative candidate in Ashton-under-Lyne during the 1929 general election but was unsuccessful. Following the death of the sitting Labour MP in 1931, Broadbent was elected as the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, campaigning notably on trade tariff issues. He secured re-election in 1931 but narrowly lost his seat in 1935. Broadbent was also a significant landowner in Derbyshire's Hope Valley. He died at his residence in Castleton in June 1938 at the age of 65.