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(Alfred) Ernest Marples, Baron Marples (9 December 1907 – 6 July 1978) was a British politician. Born at Henshaw Street in Stretford, Manchester, this local elementary schoolboy succeeded in becoming Postmaster General and Minister of Transport during his time as a member of the Conservative Government.

His father had been a renowned engineering charge-hand and Manchester Labour campaigner, and his mother had worked in a local hat factory. Ernest attended Victoria Park Council School and won a scholarship to Stretford Grammar School, but by the age of 14 he was already active in the Labour Movement, as well as earning money selling cigarettes and sweets to Manchester football crowds. He also played football for the YMCA team.

There followed a succession of jobs - miner, postman, chef, and accountant. Eventually he joined the Territorial Army, and rose to the rank of Captain. During this time his whole perception seems to have changed, as, by 1945 he had become a prospective Conservative candidate and was elected to Parliament for Wallasey, and also set up his own company of Civil Engineers (Marples, Ridgeway & Partners - Primarily road contruction) with his meagre savings and a bank loan.

Professionally, as Postmaster General, Marples is best known for having introduced the STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) telephone system which eliminated the use of operators on national phone calls. (At that time the telephone network was still under the control of the General Post Office). On 2 June 1957, he started the first draw that took place for the new Premium Bonds scheme. (see picture)

As Minister of Transport (October 14, 1959–October 16, 1964), he brought in roadside yellow lines, parking meters and seat belts. It was also under Ernest Marples that Dr Richard Beeching was appointed chairman of the British Railways Board. After a study of railway traffic Beeching produced a report in 1963 proposing the closure of a further 6000 miles of the remaining 18000 miles of Britain's railway network. The resultant closures, most of which were carried out under the Wilson Labour Government (1964–1970), became known as the Beeching Axe. Whilst Marples was a minister his two-thirds shareholding in his road construction firm were divulged to his wife, thereby avoiding any conflict of interest[1][2][3][4][5].

He retired from the House of Commons at the February 1974 general election, and in May that year he was made a life peer as Baron Marples, of Wallasey in Cheshire.

He then hastily emigrated to live in Monaco following allegations of tax fraud [6], and died in 1978.