James Callaghan (born January 28, 1927) is an English Labour politician.

He was educated at Manchester and London universities, and he worked as a Lecturer in Art at St John's College, Manchester, before entering Parliament.

In 1974, he was elected Member of Parliament for Middleton and Prestwich, and he served this constituency and its successor, Heywood and Middleton, until 1997. He was a member of various House of Commons Select Committees – on Transport, on the Cardiff Barrage scheme, and on Education, Science & the Arts.

He should not be confused with Labour Prime Minister Jim Callaghan (1912–2005).