Jack Kent (politician)
Encyclopedia
Jack Kent was a British
politician and an important figure in the early history of the Socialist Party of Great Britain
.
Kent was a well-known member of the Social Democratic Federation
, being a writer for Justice from 1897 and a speaker and lecture secretary. In 1902 he was on the SDF Executive Committee and was delegate for West Ham
Central during the 1902 SDF Conference. He was not originally an impossibilist
but came over after the 24 April meeting, revealing the manoeuvrings of Hyndman
clique.
Kent was working as a clerk at Whitbreads brewery when he helped found the Socialist Party of Great Britain
in June 1904. He was variously an indoor and outdoor speaker, a writer for the Socialist Standard
, Party delegate to the Amsterdam Congress of the Second International
in August 1904, secretary of Romford Division branch in 1904–1905, an Executive Committee member in 1905–1906 and finally Treasurer in 1907–1908. Kent resigned on 30 March 1908, probably as he did not want politics to prejudice his career advancement.
After leaving the SPGB he helped organise the ‘Constitutionalists’, a popular anti-socialist organisation, later joining the Conservative Party
. He became a local councillor in 1912, going on to become mayor
of Acton
in 1922–1923 and a Middlesex
county councillor. He died in 1946.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician and an important figure in the early history of the Socialist Party of Great Britain
Socialist Party of Great Britain
The Socialist Party of Great Britain , is a small Marxist political party within the impossibilist tradition. It is best known for its advocacy of using the ballot box for revolutionary purposes; opposition to reformism; and its early adoption of the theory of state capitalism to describe the...
.
Kent was a well-known member of the Social Democratic Federation
Social Democratic Federation
The Social Democratic Federation was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on June 7, 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury and Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's long-term...
, being a writer for Justice from 1897 and a speaker and lecture secretary. In 1902 he was on the SDF Executive Committee and was delegate for West Ham
West Ham
West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...
Central during the 1902 SDF Conference. He was not originally an impossibilist
Impossibilism
Impossibilism is an interpretation of Marxism. It emphasizes the limited value of reforms in overturning capitalism and insists on revolutionary political action as the only reliable method of bringing about socialism.-Origins of the concept:...
but came over after the 24 April meeting, revealing the manoeuvrings of Hyndman
Henry Hyndman
Henry Mayers Hyndman was an English writer and politician, and the founder of the Social Democratic Federation and the National Socialist Party.-Early years:...
clique.
Kent was working as a clerk at Whitbreads brewery when he helped found the Socialist Party of Great Britain
Socialist Party of Great Britain
The Socialist Party of Great Britain , is a small Marxist political party within the impossibilist tradition. It is best known for its advocacy of using the ballot box for revolutionary purposes; opposition to reformism; and its early adoption of the theory of state capitalism to describe the...
in June 1904. He was variously an indoor and outdoor speaker, a writer for the Socialist Standard
Socialist Standard
The Socialist Standard is a monthly socialist magazine published without interruption since 1904 by the Socialist Party of Great Britain. The magazine is written in a simple, direct style and focuses mainly on socialist advocacy and Marxian analysis of current events, particularly those affecting...
, Party delegate to the Amsterdam Congress of the Second International
Second International
The Second International , the original Socialist International, was an organization of socialist and labour parties formed in Paris on July 14, 1889. At the Paris meeting delegations from 20 countries participated...
in August 1904, secretary of Romford Division branch in 1904–1905, an Executive Committee member in 1905–1906 and finally Treasurer in 1907–1908. Kent resigned on 30 March 1908, probably as he did not want politics to prejudice his career advancement.
After leaving the SPGB he helped organise the ‘Constitutionalists’, a popular anti-socialist organisation, later joining the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. He became a local councillor in 1912, going on to become mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Acton
Acton, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
in 1922–1923 and a Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
county councillor. He died in 1946.