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VIII. The National Democratic Party and the British Workers' League*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

Roy Douglas
Roy Douglas
Affiliation:
University of Surrey
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Extract

The National Democratic Party (NDP) provides the most spectacular example of a ‘ mushroom ’ party in twentieth century British politics. It first fielded candidates in the 1918 general election, and ten of them were returned to parliament. Those of its M.P.s who defended their seats in 1922 all stood under different auspices; they were all defeated, and none of them was ever again elected. Yet in its short career the NDP and its predecessors underwent some very considerable changes in structure and purpose. Their origin must be sought in the widely different, and often confused, attitudes to the First World War which existed in the Labour party and the various Socialist groups.

Type
Articles
Information
The Historical Journal , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , September 1972 , pp. 533 - 552
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

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References

* The author wishes to express his grateful thanks for access to archives, and for permission to quote copyright material, to the First Beaverbrook Foundation, to the Bodleian Library, to the Warden and Fellows of New College, Oxford, and to Viscount Wimborne. He also wishes to thank Dr Cameron Hazlehurst, who first suggested the Milner papers as a source of information about ‘ Victor Fisher candidates ’, and to thank the University of Surrey for a grant from the Faculty IV Research Fund.

1 On the putatively pacifist opinions of Keir Hardie, see Merthyr Pioneer, 27 Dec. 1914, and Forward, 1 Jan. 1915.

2 Victor Fisher's obituary (The Times, 2 Feb. 1954) states that he resigned in 1914. Tsuzuki, C.'s H. M. Hyndman and British Socialism, p. 227, indicates that he still belonged in 1915.Google Scholar

3 Milner to Lloyd George, 26 May 1917. Lloyd George papers F/38/2/5; Gollin, A.M., Proconsul in Politics, pp. 546, 549.Google Scholar

4 For an account of the early stages of the SNDC and the British Workers' League, see the Annual Report to the First Annual Conference of the BWL: British Citizen and Empire Worker, 31 Mar. 1917. The Manifesto was published in Clarion, 14 May 1915.

5 The Times, 20 and 22 July 1915. But Tsuzuki, states (op. cit. p. 232), that Hyndman ' was never officially associated with the extreme “ patriotic ” element led by Victor Fisher, who founded the Socialist National Defence Committee in April 1915’Google Scholar

6 Clarion, 12 Nov. and 3 Dec. 1915.

7 British Citizen, etc., 31 Mar. 1917.

8 Milner to Fisher, 20 Jan. 1916 (copy). Milner papers 1, fos. 240-1.

9 The Times, 1 May 1916.

10 The Times, 15 May 1916.

11 Clarion, 10 Mar. 1916.

12 British Citizen, etc., 25 Aug. 1916.

13 Thompson, A.M., Here I lie, p. 156.Google Scholar

14 British Citizen, etc., 8 Sept. 1916.

15 British Citizen, etc., 31 Mar. 1917.

16 See, e.g., cartoons of 25 Aug. 1916 (Asquith) and 30 Sept. 1916 (Runciman).

17 See, for example, cartoon of 15 Sept. 1916, where ‘ Organised British Labour ’ is shown kicking out ‘ Sweated German Commodities ’ and ‘ Pacifist ’.

18 An account of the conference is given in the British Citizen, etc., 31 Mar. 1919.

19 British Citizen, etc., 16 June and 7 July 1917.

20 British Citizen, etc., 22 Dec. 1917.

21 British Citizen, etc., 6 Oct. 1917.

22 British Citizen, etc., 18 Oct. 1917.

23 The Times, 7 Sept. 1918; see also Clarion, 5 July and 23 Aug. 1918.

24 The Times, 6 Sept. 1917.

25 British Citizen, etc., 1 Sept. to 11 Nov. 1917; Ibid. 1 Dec. 1917.

26 British Citizen, etc., 20 Oct. 1917.

27 Report of the 17th Annual Conference of Labour Party, p. 35.

28 The Times, 30 Nov. 1918, reports this, although the event had taken place a year earlier.

29 For Labour party discussions on these matters, see Report of the 17th Conference of Labour Party, pp. 109–11.Google Scholar

30 The Times, 26 Jan. 1918. In the event, the BWL's successor opposed MacDonald and Jowett, but did not run a candidate against Snowden at Blackburn.

31 Article by Fisher, Victor, British Citizen, etc., 8 June 1918; see also The Times, 1 June 1918.Google Scholar

32 Compare letter of Victor Fisher to Christopher Addison, 17 Jan. 1918 (enclosed in letter fromb Addison to Lloyd George, 17 Jan. 1918), Lloyd George papers F/1/4/8; British Citizen, etc., 6 July 1918.

33 Fisher to Bonar Law, 5 July 1918. Bonar Law papers 83/5/5.

34 Bonar Law to Fisher (copy), July 1918. Ibid. 84/7/46.

35 F. E. Guest to Lloyd George, 20 July 1918. Lloyd George papers F/21/2/28.

36 See, for example, article on Imperial Preference, British Citizen, etc., 2 Nov. 1918.

37 British Citizen, etc., 9 Nov. 1918.

38 99 H.C.Deb. 55, col. 733 (16 Nov. 1917).

39 The Times, 22 June 1917.

40 British Citizen, etc., 9 Nov. 1918.

41 Ibid. 30 Nov. 1918.

42 The 10 candidates elected were: A. Clement Edwards (East Ham S.); J. F. Green (Leicester W.); E. Hallas (Birmingham/Duddeston); C. Jesson (Walthamstow W.); C. E. Loseby (Bradford E.); J. A. Seddon (Stoke/Hanley); M. T. Simm (Wallsend); C. B. Stanton (Merthyr/Aberdare); J. Taylor (Dumbarton Burghs) and J. Walton (Yorks./Don Valley). The Daily Chronicle, 31 Dec. 1918, although it claims to give an authoritative list, wrongly includes T. W. Casey and J. Havelock Wilson, both of whom should be regarded as Coalition Liberals, and omits Jesson. The candidates who received the ‘Coupon’ and were not elected were: Captain R. Gee (Durham/Consett); J. Lindsey (Durham/Houghton-le-Spring); Captain A. Balfour (Edinburgh E.); J. R. Bell (Hull S.W.); H. H. Whaite (Notts./Broxtowe); G. W. S. Jarrett (Notts./Mansfield); J. Taylor (Paisley); J. A. Shaw (Wolverhampton E.); V. Fisher (Worcs./Stourbridge) and E. G. Bearcroft (Yorks./Rother Valley). The candidates who did not receive the ‘ Coupon ’ were W. Hammond (Accrington); H. M. Smith (Derby); D. Gilmour (Lanarks./Hamilton); T. M. Allison (Morpeth); J. J. Terrett (Rochdale); E. S. Bardsley (Rotherham); A. E. Harvey (Tottenham S.) and W. Dyson (Nuneaton).

43 W. D. Ward to J. T. Davies, 14 Jan. 1920. Lloyd George papers F/22/1/1.

44 The contests in which NDP candidates were engaged may be classified as follows (not including Independents and ‘ freak ’ candidates): (a) NDP received ‘ Coupon ’ and was elected. 2 had only Liberal, 2 had only Labour, opponents; 5 had only Liberal and Labour, one had only Labour and Conservative opponents, (b) NDP received ‘ Coupon ’, not elected. 2 had only Liberal, 8 had Liberal and Labour (or Co-operative) only, (c) NDP did not receive ‘ Coupon ’, not elected. 5 had Conservative, Liberal and Labour, 2 had Conservative and Labour, one stood in a two-member constituency where no ‘ Coupons ’ were issued.

45 British Citizen, etc., 4 Jan. 1919.

46 128 H.C.Deb. 5S, col. 767 (23 Apr. 1920).

47 The Times, 1 Jan. 1919.

48 The Times, 10 Feb. 1919.

49 Ibid. 11 Feb. 1920.

50 Ibid. 4 Feb. 1919.

51 British Citizen, etc., 20 Mar. 1919; F. E. Guest to Lloyd George, 15 Mar. 1919. Lloyd George papers F/21/3/10.

52 British Citizen, etc., 29 May 1919.

53 Ibid. 5 June 1919.

54 At Consett, immediately to the West of Chester-le-Street, Captain R. Gee ran within 300 votes of the Liberal victor. At Houghton-le-Spring, immediately to the East, J. Lindsey, although third, was less than 1,200 votes behind the Labour victor.

54 British Citizen, etc., 20 May 1920, 27 May 1920, etc.

55 W. Dudley Ward to Lloyd George, 14 May 1920. Lloyd George papers F/22/1/35.

57 Tumor's conversion does not seem to have been recent. An article by him on agriculture appears in the British Citizen, etc., 6 Jan. 19.17.

58 This apparently means G. W. S. Jarrett, the Chief Organizer.

59 British Citizen, etc., 5 June 1919.

60 British Citizen, etc., 6 Nov. 1920.

61 British Citizen, etc., 22 Nov. 1919.

62 The Times, 5 Mar. 1919.

63 British Citizen, etc., 4 Oct. 1919.

64 The Times, 15 Apr. 1919.

65 Ibid. 20 May 1919.

66 Ibid. 11 Feb. 1920.

67 Ibid. 18 Feb. 1920.

68 Report of Walter Long's visit to Ireland in Jan. 1920 (dated 3 Feb. 1920). Lloyd George papers F/34/1/6.

69 129 H.C.Deb. 5S, col. 1920 (2 June 1920).

70 British Citizen, etc., 9 Aug. 1919, lists some of the donations.

71 Ibid. 12 Mar. 1921.

72 128 H.C.Deb. 5S, cols. 758–9; 767–71; 774–7 (23 Apr. 1920).

73 British Citizen, etc., 27 May 1920.

74 See, e.g. British Citizen, etc., 5 June 1919.

75 Ibid. 3 Jan. 1920.

76 F. E. Guest's letter to Lloyd George, 10 May 1919, lists 13 Liberals and 48 Unionists. Lloyd George papers F/21/3/21.

77 Oscar Guest to Lloyd George, June 1919. Lloyd George papers F/95/1/38.

78 The Times, 10 June 1919.

79 British Citizen, etc., 17 Jan. 1920.

80 British Citizen, etc., 26 Feb. 1921.

81 British Citizen, etc., 12 Mar. 1921.

82 Empire Citizen, Nov. 1925.

83 First issue Dec. 1921.

84 British Citizen, etc., 15 Apr. 1920.

85 Norah K. Gallkhan to Miss Gilmour Brown, 29 Dec. 1921. Lloyd George papers F/35/1/26.

86 Empire Citizen, Feb. 1922.

87 The other M.P. who is called ‘Coalition Labour’ was Brigadier General Sir Owen Thomas (Anglesey; see Liberal Year Book, 1922, p. 70). There were two ‘Labour Unionist M.P.s sitting for Belfast constituencies - S. McGuffin and T. Donald. The first of these contributed an article to the Empire Citizen, Dec. 1921, and these two may perhaps be added. There were about six Liberal supporters of the coalition who, on grounds of their social origin, might be called ‘Labour’ (T. W. Casey; Robert Mason; David Matthews; James Parker; J. Ward; J. Havelock Wilson). Conceivably Barnet Kenyon and J. G. Hancock should be added as well, although they are usually classified as ‘Wee Frees’. This list, which seems to be extended to its limit, still only numbers 21.

88 Thus, there were no ‘rebels‘ on Sir William Barton's ‘Safeguarding’ amendment (C. McCurdy to Lloyd George, II May 1921; Lloyd George papers F/34/4/8) or - unless we classify Kenyon as Coalition Labour - on the Post Office division of 9 June 1921 (ibid. F/34/4/II).

89 The Times, 26 Oct. 1922.

90 Empire Citizen, May 1923.

91 The Times, 2 Apr. 1923. This report, which seems to be the last reference to the BWL in The Times, only appears in certain editions of the newspaper, and not in the one which is repro duced on microfilm. The author wishes to thank Mr Colin Kyte, of the publications department of The Times for his kindness in tracking down the appropriate edition.

92 Empire Citizen, Jan. 1924.

93 Ibid. May 1924.

94 Empire Citizen, Oct. 1925.

93 Ibid. June 1926.

96 Ibid. May 1927.