British Workers League
Encyclopedia
The British Workers League (also the British Workers National League) was a 'patriotic
labour
' group which was anti-socialist
and pro-war.
The league's origins lay in the 1915 split by the right-wing of the British Socialist Party
, primarily over issues raised by the First World War
. The dissenting group supported "the eternal idea of nationality
" and aimed to promote "socialist measures in the war effort". This group, including H. G. Wells
and Robert Blatchford
, formed the Socialist National Defence Committee
.
In 1916, the committee worked with Alexander M. Thompson
to form the British Workers League. Now avowedly anti-socialist, it described itself as a "patriotic
labour" group and focused on support for the war. Rev. A. W. Gough, Prebendary
of St. Paul's Cathedral, was Chairman of the British Workers League for London
and the Home Counties
. Edward Robertshaw Hartley was also a member. The Labour MP Stephen Walsh and the Liberal (later Labour) MP Leo Chiozza Money
were vice presidents. During the war period the British Workers League sometimes threatened to break up pacifist meetings.
In 1918 the British Workers League re-constituted itself as the National Democratic and Labour Party
with the support of George Barnes
, Member of Parliament
for Glasgow Blackfriars and Hutchesontown
, when he resigned from the Labour Party
. The party won nine seats in the 1918 general election
.
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
labour
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
' group which was anti-socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and pro-war.
The league's origins lay in the 1915 split by the right-wing of the British Socialist Party
British Socialist Party
The British Socialist Party was a Marxist political organisation established in Great Britain in 1911. Following a protracted period of factional struggle, in 1916 the party's anti-war forces gained decisive control of the party and saw the defection of its pro-war Right Wing...
, primarily over issues raised by the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The dissenting group supported "the eternal idea of nationality
Nationality
Nationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity....
" and aimed to promote "socialist measures in the war effort". This group, including H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
and Robert Blatchford
Robert Blatchford
Robert Peel Glanville Blatchford was a socialist campaigner, journalist and author in the United Kingdom. He was a prominent atheist and opponent of eugenics. He was also an English patriot...
, formed the Socialist National Defence Committee
Socialist National Defence Committee
The Socialist National Defence Committee also known as the Socialist National Defence League was a pro First World War socialist faction....
.
In 1916, the committee worked with Alexander M. Thompson
Alexander M. Thompson
Alexander Mattock Thompson , sometimes credited as A. M. Thompson, was a German-born English journalist and dramatist. From the 1880s, Thompson wrote for socialist newspapers and journals, co-founding The Clarion in 1891...
to form the British Workers League. Now avowedly anti-socialist, it described itself as a "patriotic
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
labour" group and focused on support for the war. Rev. A. W. Gough, Prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of St. Paul's Cathedral, was Chairman of the British Workers League for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the Home Counties
Home Counties
The home counties is a term which refers to the counties of South East England and the East of England which border London, but do not include the capital city itself...
. Edward Robertshaw Hartley was also a member. The Labour MP Stephen Walsh and the Liberal (later Labour) MP Leo Chiozza Money
Leo Chiozza Money
Sir Leo George Chiozza Money , born Leone Giorgio Chiozza, was an Italian-born economic theorist who moved to Britain in the 1890s, where he made his name as a politician, journalist and author. In the early years of the 20th century his views attracted the interest of two future Prime Ministers,...
were vice presidents. During the war period the British Workers League sometimes threatened to break up pacifist meetings.
In 1918 the British Workers League re-constituted itself as the National Democratic and Labour Party
National Democratic and Labour Party
The National Democratic and Labour Party, usually abbreviated to National Democratic Party , was a political party in the United Kingdom....
with the support of George Barnes
George Nicoll Barnes
George Nicoll Barnes CH PC was a Scottish politician and a leader of the Labour Party.Barnes was born in Lochee, Dundee, the second of five sons of James Barnes, a skilled engineer and mill manager from Yorkshire, and his wife, Catherine Adam Langlands...
, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Glasgow Blackfriars and Hutchesontown
Glasgow Blackfriars and Hutchesontown (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Blackfriars and Hutchesontown, representing parts of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 1918....
, when he resigned from the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. The party won nine seats in the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
.